Quebec is Currently Leading a Secular Revolution in Canada. Here’s How.

David Rand, President of the Atheist Freethinkers of Canada, speaks to Conatus News about secularism and the challenges facing secularists in Quebec. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: David, let us start with definitions, what defines “Quebec secularism?” There was the proposed Bill 60 or, otherwise called, “Charter affirming the values of State secularism and religious neutrality and […] Read more

Universal Pharmacare Coverage: Perspective from the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

There are few downsides to a Universal Pharmacare programme, as Professor Gordon Guyatt, university professor and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences points out. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Who does or would benefit from universal pharmacare coverage? I ask these questions because of the conversation in Canada at the moment. Canada has a national […] Read more

Catholic Values Fundraising Row – Secularists Respond

The International Campaign For One Secular School System will be holding a press conference at Parliament Hill in response to the Halton Catholic District School Board’s new ‘Catholic values only’ fundraising rule. The publicly funded Halton Catholic District School Board, which oversees 33,000 students in 46 elementary, 9 secondary and 4 continuing education facilities, passed a […] Read more

Canada Struggles with Secularism. What Can We Do? – A chat with Dave McKee, Communist Party of Canada

Despite being a secular nation, Canada struggles with promoting secularism, as schools and hospitals are highly influenced by religion. An interview with Dave McKee, Communist Party of Canada, on the country’s problems with religiosity in the public sector. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What stereotypes do you often hear about communism in Ontario and Canadian discourse? Dave […] Read more

Anti-Islamophobia Motion: Progressive and Helpful? Or Not So Much?

It’s been a couple of days since Canada passed M103, the non-binding motion in Parliament condemning Islamophobia and other forms of systemic racism. On right and left wing outlets alike, the motion has attracted a lot of coverage and opinions, and unleashed protests, counter-protests, demonstrations and online petitions. While liberal commentators have restricted themselves to […] Read more