Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 10h

Check out our recent YouTube livestream where Ian & Teale discussed our report on unconstitutional prayers in PEI municipal council meetings. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbJo...

Island Anomaly - PEI Municipal Prayers - Discussion

Join Ian Bushfield and Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff for a discussion on the BCHA's latest report, The Island Anomaly, which delves into unconstitutional prayers in Prince Edward Island municipal council…

www.youtube.com

2

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 15h

We're excited to be part of the No Tyrants rally in Vancouver on October 18. Join us and stand in solidarity with our American friends in resistance to rising authoritarianism and Christian Nationalism. www.bchumanist.ca/no_tyrants_2...

No Tyrants Vancouver

Power belongs to the people.

www.bchumanist.ca

1 4

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 1d

Get off social media, subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on our work and upcoming events. www.bchumanist.ca/subscribe

Subscribe

Get updates from the BC Humanist Association

www.bchumanist.ca

1

Reposted by BC Humanist Association

Shannon Waters @sobittersosweet.bsky.social · 2d

MLAs considering a motion condemning the Association for Reformed Political Action's views, tabled by NDP MLA Rohini Arora

MLAs Elenore Sturko (Ind), Rob Botterell (Green), Susie Chant and Steve Morisette (NDP) spoke in favour

Conservative MLA Larry Neufeld and Ind Jordan Kealy spoke against

38 Rohini Arora to move —

That this House condemns the intolerant views of the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA), including its harmful discrimination against transgender people, its belief that homosexuality is “immoral” and its explicit policy goal of restricting abortion access in British Columbia.

3 5 11

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 4d

This is Christian nationalism and they're trying to get a toehold in Canada.

Hundreds gather for Charlie Kirk vigil in Windsor — some advocating for more Christianity in government | CBC News

An evening vigil in downtown Windsor on Tuesday for slain American conservative activist Charlie Kirk focused heavily on the right-wing firebrand’s promotion of Christian nationalism, with attendees...

www.cbc.ca

2 2

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 7d

Going live on YouTube in a few minutes. Join us: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbJo...

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 7d

When we heard Fraser Health was partnering with an anti-choice crisis pregnancy centre, we spoke out. We're glad they're distancing themselves but the story leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
www.thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...

Fraser Health Distances Itself from Group Opposed to Abortion | The Tyee

The health authority had agreed to let the group lead a breastfeeding workshop in Abbotsford.

www.thetyee.ca

1 1 3

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 7d

Today at 1pm (PDT) join us for a livestream discussion on our most recent report on prayers in PEI municipal council meetings. www.youtube.com/live/PbJoM9q...

YouTube thumbnail for The Island Anomaly report

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 8d

This claim is not just factually untrue but is dangerous as it fuels a Christian Nationalist persecution complex.

Poilievre claims Christians 'may be the number 1' victims of hate-based violence | CBC News

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Monday that Christians and their places of worship are being targeted and, if elected, he will crack down on religion-based hate.

www.cbc.ca

2 3 14

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 8d

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We reflect on the legacy of residential schools and the need to work toward respecting the dignity of all peoples.

1 4

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 12d

In June, we called for Budget 2026 to advance secularism by ending the automatic religious tax exemptions and to phase out faith-school funding. Many of you shared our call and those efforts are reflected in the committee's report. But our work isn't done. www.bchumanist.ca/humanist_voi...

Humanist voices in BC Budget 2026 consultations

The Legislature's finance committee quotes our submissions

www.bchumanist.ca

1 6

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 12d

Let's be clear about what this is: The Alberta government is once again proposing to strip Albertans of their rights and autonomy. They went after trans kids, now the right to die. Will reproductive freedom be next?

Alberta justice minister told to legislate new safeguards, oversight of MAID

Alberta’s justice minister has been directed to introduce new legislation on Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAID, that would give the government greater control and oversight of the program.

www.ctvnews.ca

1 5 7

Reposted by BC Humanist Association

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada @abortionrightscan.bsky.social · 15d

Have you stumbled across a Crisis Pregnancy Centre website? 💻

Teale of @bchumanist.ca joins Leslie in our latest CPC website walkthrough of Valley Care Pregnancy Centre in Kentville, NS. Watch them reveal the common tricks and tactics used to deceive folks looking for options. 🔍

CPC Website Walkthrough: Valley Care Pregnancy Centre, Kentville NS

YouTube video by Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

youtu.be

2 5

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 20d

The duty of religious neutrality is an unwritten constitutional principle that cannot be overruled by the notwithstanding clause. We just filed our factum with the Supreme Court of Canada in the Quebec's religious symbols ban (Bill 21) case.
www.bchumanist.ca/secularism_i...

Secularism is inherent to the Charter argues BCHA & CSA

"Canada is a secular democracy."

www.bchumanist.ca

2 9

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 20d

🤔
Looks like Fraser Health saw our press release and have updated their social media and website messaging to remove mention of the crisis pregnancy centre. There's no public word on this yet though, so we'll keep investigating this.

Facebook post from August 4 listing "Hope for women (*women-only space)" for Fraser Health Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Cafe.

Updated post from yesterday (August 17) with no specific cafe locations mentioned besides "Langley, Abbotsford and Maple Ridge."

1 4

Reposted by BC Humanist Association

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada @abortionrightscan.bsky.social · 22d

An alliance of groups that support reproductive rights, including ARCC, is raising the alarm over a recent partnership between Fraser Health and the anti-abortion organization Hope for Women.

Fraser Health Must End Anti-Abortion Partnership – Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

www.arcc-cdac.ca

1 8 7

Reposted by BC Humanist Association

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada @abortionrightscan.bsky.social · 21d

This is really great news, but why didn't Carney make it clear much earlier? Reproductive rights and health are obviously a low priority for this "Liberal" gov't.

Federal government to sign pharmacare deals with provinces, Carney says

The federal Liberal government is committed to signing pharmacare deals with all provinces and territories, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday, ending months of speculation about the program bei...

www.ctvnews.ca

3 3

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 21d

We posted a quick summary of our latest report on prayers in PEI municipal council meetings. Check it out www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBIw...

The Island Anomaly - Prayers in PEI Municipalities

This is the eighth report in our ongoing series as part of The Saguenay Project, which monitors and advocates for the elimination of prayer in Canadian municipal council meetings, following the 2015…

www.youtube.com

2

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 21d

That one lone offender? The City of Summerside who invited a Christian minister to open their 2022 swearing-in ceremony with a prayer. We emailed them asking them to adhere to the Saguenay decision in the future and we eagerly await their reply.

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 22d

We've just published our latest report in The Saguenay Project on Prince Edward Island.

Impressively, we only found one municipal council prayer in over a decade of meeting minutes in the entire province. Way to go PEI!
www.bchumanist.ca/island_anoma...

PEI declared most compliant province with Saguenay ruling

Only Summerside's 2022 swearing-in ceremony included a prayer

www.bchumanist.ca

1

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 21d

We recently learned Fraser Health was partnering with an anti-choice crisis pregnancy centre to provide a "women-only" breastfeeding cafe. After they didn't reply to our emails, we're publicly calling them to break this anti-choice, transphobic partnership.
www.bchumanist.ca/fraser_healt...

Fraser Health must end anti-abortion partnership

The BCHA is calling on Fraser Health to break ties with Hope for Women

www.bchumanist.ca

2

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 22d

We've just published our latest report in The Saguenay Project on Prince Edward Island.

Impressively, we only found one municipal council prayer in over a decade of meeting minutes in the entire province. Way to go PEI!
www.bchumanist.ca/island_anoma...

PEI declared most compliant province with Saguenay ruling

Only Summerside's 2022 swearing-in ceremony included a prayer

www.bchumanist.ca

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 27d

"Our quest for a more secular society should target those with power—governments and institutions—rather than the individual believer just trying to live their life."

2 5

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 27d

We told Hemant: "We're obviously troubled by these moves. Further, we worry that these threats to individual rights and freedoms may overshadow the important recommendations that would help dismantle the privileges that institutional religion continues to enjoy in Quebec and across Canada."

Hemant Mehta @friendlyatheist.com · 27d

Quebec’s new push to outlaw public prayer isn’t about preserving secularism.

It’s about control—using Islamophobia as fuel.

This bill won’t solve any problems. It’ll just create new ones.

www.friendlyatheist.com/p/quebecs-pr...

Quebec's proposed public prayer ban is a blunt attack on religious freedom

Under the guise of “secularism,” the ruling Coalition Avenir Québec government is turning intolerance into policy

www.friendlyatheist.com

1 2 5

BC Humanist Association @bchumanist.ca · 27d

Blasphemy laws are always wrong. We supported efforts to get Canada to finally repeal ours only a few years ago and there are still too many countries where "religious offense" takes precedence over freedom of expression. #FreeBetty
gomag.com/article/moro...

Moroccan LGBTQ Activist Betty Lachgar Faces 2.5 Years In Prison For Online Post - GO Magazine

The outspoken feminist was convicted of blasphemy after sharing a selfie in a T-shirt that read “Allah is a lesbian.”

gomag.com

1

Reposted by BC Humanist Association

Hemant Mehta @friendlyatheist.com · 27d

Quebec’s new push to outlaw public prayer isn’t about preserving secularism.

It’s about control—using Islamophobia as fuel.

This bill won’t solve any problems. It’ll just create new ones.

www.friendlyatheist.com/p/quebecs-pr...

Quebec's proposed public prayer ban is a blunt attack on religious freedom

Under the guise of “secularism,” the ruling Coalition Avenir Québec government is turning intolerance into policy

www.friendlyatheist.com

4 26 76