Bill C-51

Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould tabled bill C-51, a bill which would have an impact on the religious freedom of Christians and other groups in Canada.

One positive focus of the bill is to update Canada's sexual assault laws and offer greater protection for alleged sexual assault victims. But the bill also seeks to remove a number of sections of the Criminal Code that are viewed as obsolete or redundant, often referred to as “zombie laws.”

The area of concern is Clause 25 of Bill C-51 which proposes to remove a section of the Criminal Code that offers protection from any individual who:

unlawfully obstructs or prevents or endeavours to obstruct or prevent a clergyman or minister from celebrating divine service or performing any other function in connection with his calling,

who willfully disturbs or interrupts an assemblage of persons met for religious worship or for a moral, social or benevolent purpose,

who, at or near such a meeting wilfully does anything that disturbs the order or solemnity of the meeting.

As MP David Anderson has said, "by repealing this section, the Government would remove the only provision in the Criminal Code that directly protects the rights of individuals to freely practice their religion." Senator Betty Unger has also issued a press release stating her concerns regarding C-51.
What You Can Do:

1) Pray:
Please pray that God would keep Canada glorious and free. Pray that our government and all parliamentarians would work to establish greater protections surrounding religious freedom and ardently protect those we already have. Please pray that the Christian believers in Canada, and those from all religious groups would become aware of this bill and its implications and that they too would become more involved in standing for religious freedom in Canada.

2) Contact Key Parliamentarians:
Please take a few moments to call and/or e-mail your Member of Parliament and the Minister of Justice to register your concerns about the section of Bill C-51 mentioned above.

Please also include David Anderson, Official Opposition Critic for International Human Rights and Religious Freedom, and Deputy Critic Garnett Genuis so that they can effectively fight against this section of Bill C-51 in the House of Commons.
Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould:

E-mail at [email protected]
Telephone: 613-992-1416
MP David Anderson:
E-mail at [email protected]
Telephone: 613-992-0657
MP Garnett Genuis:
E-mail at [email protected]
Telephone: 613-995-3611