Canada Office of Religious Freedom

Office of Religious Freedom
Agency overview
Formed February 19, 2013 (2013-02-19)
Dissolved March 31, 2016 (2016-03-31)
Employees 5
Annual budget C$5,000,000
Agency executive
Parent department Global Affairs Canada
Website www.international.gc.ca/religious_freedom-liberte_de_religion/index.aspx

The Office of Religious Freedom was an agency of Global Affairs Canada of the Government of Canada, that was established to monitor religious oppression and protect freedom of religion internationally. It was closed on 31 March, 2016.

History

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Office of Religious Freedom as part of his political campaign during the 2011 Canadian election.[1]

A closed-door meeting about the office was criticized when it was discovered that of the six panellists consulted, four were Christian, one Jewish, and one Baha'i. Harper denied the office would have a Christian bias, in response to claims of such a bias in a similar office in the US. Harper stated that Canada is "a very different country".[1]

On 19 February 2013, the Office of Religious Freedom was officially opened and Harper announced that Andrew P.W. Bennett would be its first ambassador. Bennett previously worked as a Catholic college dean and a civil servant.[1]

On 31 March, 2016, the Office of Religious Freedom was closed by the Liberal government that was voted into office in the 2015 Canadian federal elections.[2][3][4]

Mandate

The office's stated mandate was to:[5]

  1. protect, and advocate on behalf of, religious minorities under threat;
  2. oppose religious hatred and intolerance; and
  3. promote Canadian values of pluralism and tolerance abroad.

Criticism

The Office of Religious Freedom faced some criticism.

Humanist Canada and the Centre for Inquiry Canada (CFIC) noted that no secular organizations were consulted about the creation of the office, nor were they invited to the official announcement of the new ambassador.[6] Bob Rae, the then-interim liberal leader, agreed that religious freedom is an important value, but questioned how the office would fit into Canada’s broader efforts to address human rights issues.[7] A representative of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations raised concerns as to whether the Office was too Christian focused, since the person appointed to lead it was a Catholic.

Endorsement

Former British prime minister Tony Blair, a Roman Catholic, warmly endorsed the Office while in Ottawa in October 2013, "I think the very fact that Canada's taken the step to have an Office of Religious Freedom is a great sign. I think it shows leadership from Canada. And Canada, by the way, in many ways is a perfect place from which to promote this ideal because of the complexion of the country."

Effects

Harper stated that Chinese diplomats were upset that he had "singled out religious persecution in China"[8] during his announcement of the establishment of the office.

In a 2013 Globe and Mail article by Steven Chase, Ambassador Bennett was quoted saying “Freedom of religion includes the freedom not to have a particular religious faith...I think that’s just logically consistent.” The author continued "[Ambassador Bennett] signalled his greatest priority would be believers. “The vast majority of people being persecuted are people of faith. They are the ones that are being killed. They are the ones that are facing legislative and regulatory restrictions.”[9]

Closing

The Office of Religious Freedom was closed on March 31st, 2016.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 CBC News staff 2013-02-19.
  2. ↑ "In defence of the defunct Office of Religious Freedom". Macleans. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Liberals to close Office of Religious Freedom, Dion says". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Conservative motion to save religious freedoms office fails to pass Commons". Global News. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Moncton News staff 2013-02-19.
  6. ↑ 4 questions about Canada’s new Office of Religious Freedom
  7. ↑ CTV article:Scholar Andrew Bennett to lead Canada's Office of Religious Freedom
  8. ↑ Chase 2013.
  9. ↑ "New religious-freedom watchdog faces uphill battle". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-04-03.

Sources

External links

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