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Alberta passed Bill 24: An Act to Support Gay-Straight Alliances, in November 2017. The bill required school principals to immediately grant permission for Gay-Straight Alliance/Queer-Straight Alliance clubs or activities “intended to promote a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging” at the request of a student. However the province has passed new legislation that does not include the provisions fro

Here's the latest news including implications analysis by lawyer Geoffrey Trotter, podcast with TWU’s Bob Kuhn, EFC president’s blog and video, webinar discussion, news releases and more. Below this bulleted list is a series of buttons that allow viewing of additional material. Implications for the Evangelical Community of the Supreme Court Decision in the Trinity Western University Law School Case. By Geoffrey Trotter, co-counsel for the EFC in its interventions in the TWU l

On Nov. 2, 2017, justices at the Supreme Court announced their decision in the Ktunaxa case, which they heard back on Dec. 1, 2016. The EFC intervened in the case, and here you’ll find an issue summary, analysis and links to media releases and legal arguments. Issue Summary (From 2016) For the first time, the Supreme Court of Canada was set to determine the merits of an Indigenous religious freedom claim under the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. This historic c

EFC staff are pleased by the Supreme Court decision of May 31, 2018. The case concerns whether the court has the jurisdiction to review the membership decisions of religious communities and other voluntary associations. Randy Wall was a member of the Highwood Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Calgary, Alberta. He was disfellowshipped by the elders of his local congregation. Wall asked the court to undertake a judicial review of the elders’ decision to disfellowship him.

Case Summary A municipal by-law allowed city council meetings in Saguenay to begin with a voluntary prayer for members who wished to participate. Alain Simoneau, a resident of Saguenay at the time, filed a complaint with a human rights tribunal in 2007 over the prayer and the presence of religious symbols, such as a crucifix, at city hall. Simoneau argued that these religious expressions violated his freedom of conscience and religion. The Quebec human rights tribunal found i

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada intervened before the Supreme Court of Canada in this religious freedom case March 24, 2014. A decision was announced March 19, 2015. The EFC intervened in the case to argue that government decision making must take into account the principles of life in a free and democratic society, including recognition of the religious freedom of individuals, religious communities and corporations / organizations established for a religious purpose. T

EFC President explains court decision and what’s next on 100 Huntley Street (Feb. 9, The Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) case led to the striking down of Canada’s laws that prohibit assisting someone to commit suicide. The federal government was given a deadline of Feb. 2016 to introduce legislation to regulate when and how assisted suicide can be legally practised. The government asked the court for a six-month extension on this deadline and eventually did pass legislati

Case Summary In September 2010, Justice Susan Himel of the Ontario Superior Court effectively struck down the Criminal Code provisions dealing with living on the avails (proceeds) of prostitution, keeping a common bawdy house (brothel), and communicating for the purposes of prostitution in the case of Bedford v. Attorney-General of Canada. That decision was appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal where five judges heard the appeal and decided: 1. The federal government had tw

Case Summary The Cuthberton v. Rasouli case was about an Ontario man who became comatose following complications with minor brain surgery. At the time the legal proceedings began his physicians determined that he was in a persistent vegetative state, had no hope of recovery and should be withdrawn from life support. His family, including his wife who is a physician, disagreed with the diagnosis and sought an injunction to prevent the physicians from unilaterally removing Mr.