Profile :: Purpose
In our efforts to normalize atheism in Canadian society and throughout the world, we are accomplishing the following:
- providing information about atheism
- encouraging and facilitatating community involvement and interaction (public events, including in-person get-togethers, are being actively scheduled again since being on hold prior to August 2022 during the COVID19 Coronavirus pandemic)
- countering the arbitrary (and unjustified) vilification of atheists
- quelling the continually-dwindling stigma that mischaracterizes atheism and atheists
- advocating for freedoms in accordance with our country's national Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (these rights are essential to effective atheism advocacy)
- keeping the sphere of religious influence out of government, education, and health policies nationally, provincially/territorially, and municipally (which is in keeping with Canada being "the land of the true north strong and free")
While our Charter Rights in Canada are Constitutionally-protected as "fundamental," a possibility exists that some people (including politicians, administrators, etc.) may try to revoke rights and/or limit freedoms, and so it's important to object to any restrictions or oppressive impositions that threaten these rights and freedoms no matter how minor (a series of minor incremental changes can systematically compound the erosion of rights).
Since recovering rights lost is invariably more difficult than defending them while they're still in effect, we feel justified in taking a proactive approach in this advocacy.
The following five sections of our national Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are of particular interest to Canadian atheists, although it's important to note that in general we also value the Charter in its entirety:
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Constitution Act, 1982 (Part I, Schedule B) Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (selected portions) |
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Rights and freedoms in Canada
1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. |
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Fundamental freedoms
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
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Legal Rights (life, liberty and security of person)
7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. |
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Treatment or punishment
12. Everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. |
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Equality Rights (equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law)
15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability. |
| The above text includes only selected portions of the Canadian Constitution; the full text is available here: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/FullText.html |
See also
