Ahead of Remembrance Day, Tories Renew Calls on Ottawa to Reverse Military Public Prayer Ban

Conservative MP Dane Lloyd is calling on the federal government to reverse its military prayer ban ahead of Remembrance Day. Lloyd raised the matter during question period in the House of Commons on Sept. 25, objecting to a July 29 instruction issued by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) requiring all CAF members and individuals delivering public remarks at official events where prayers or religious observances would traditionally be offered to instead give a “spiritual reflection” without language specific to a particular religion, including references to God. “A Remembrance Day approaches, military chaplains representing many faiths are deeply concerned about government instructions issued over the summer directing them not to reference God in prayer or spiritual reflections,” Lloyd said.