Let's end the prayer in the House of Commons
Ottawa, June 12, 2019 - Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, and Marilène Gill, MP for Manicouagan, deplore the decision of the House of Commons to oppose the replacement of the daily prayer that marks the beginning of its work by a moment of recollection. "A state which claims to be secular can not, at the beginning of its daily work, begin with an intervention referring to " God Almighty " . By simple coherence and respect for secularism and diversity, the Bloc Québécois demands that this archaic prayer
be replaced by a minute of meditation, "said Yves-François Blanchet.
Each sitting day, prior to the start of the proceedings and their televised broadcast, the Speaker of the House of Commons recites the following prayer: "Almighty God, we thank you for the many graces you have bestowed on Canada and its citizens, including freedom, opportunities for fulfillment and peace. We pray for our sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, and the Governor General. Guide us in our deliberations
as MPs and help us to become aware of our duties and responsibilities (...) ".
The Bloc Québécois has tabled the following request, requiring the unanimous support of parliamentarians: "That this House put an end to the daily prayer of opening of sitting at the end of this Parliament and that it be replaced by a moment of meditation ".
Both Liberals and Conservatives opposed this motion.
"It is disappointing to note that the federalist parliamentarians oppose secularism in Quebec, but impose the prayer in Ottawa. For the Bloc Québécois, prayer is a personal choice that has no place as an introduction to the work of those who vote our laws. If members of other parties want to pray, let them go to church. Quebeckers want a secular state. And what Quebec wants, the Bloc wants, "concluded Marilène Gill.
be replaced by a minute of meditation, "said Yves-François Blanchet.
Each sitting day, prior to the start of the proceedings and their televised broadcast, the Speaker of the House of Commons recites the following prayer: "Almighty God, we thank you for the many graces you have bestowed on Canada and its citizens, including freedom, opportunities for fulfillment and peace. We pray for our sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, and the Governor General. Guide us in our deliberations
as MPs and help us to become aware of our duties and responsibilities (...) ".
The Bloc Québécois has tabled the following request, requiring the unanimous support of parliamentarians: "That this House put an end to the daily prayer of opening of sitting at the end of this Parliament and that it be replaced by a moment of meditation ".
Both Liberals and Conservatives opposed this motion.
"It is disappointing to note that the federalist parliamentarians oppose secularism in Quebec, but impose the prayer in Ottawa. For the Bloc Québécois, prayer is a personal choice that has no place as an introduction to the work of those who vote our laws. If members of other parties want to pray, let them go to church. Quebeckers want a secular state. And what Quebec wants, the Bloc wants, "concluded Marilène Gill.
