Christians are covered under the charter too

Make no mistake about it. The disgraceful decision by a group of bigoted and ignorant Nanaimo City councillors on May 5th of this year to ban a Christian event from the Nanaimo Convention Center should alarm every Canadian who values their freedom under our Charter.

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Never mind that the Christian-theme leadership conference had world-class speakers such as former First Lady Laura Bush, Nobel Prize laureate Desmond Tutu and other noteable people of success. The "enlightened" councillors condemned the event as "hateful" and "divisive" comparing it to the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram. The streamed event from Atlanta was sponsored in part by Chick-fil-A whose owner, Dan Cathy, according to one councillor, "has a rich history of homophobia and other divisive practices". The conference was about leadership training and does not explicitly address controversial subjects like homosexuality. You really have to wonder if these councillors would have been as quick to denounce a Jewish, Muslim, Sikh or Hindu group. Seems Christians make easy targets these days. Officials in Nanaimo have since issued a statement affirming the rights of "men and women of all faiths" to rent government-owned venues. Disturbing decisions such as took place at Nanaimo City council are a violation of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms and pose a direct challenge to religious freedom and freedom of conscience.

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