Canada’s New Parliament Should Prioritize Freedom of Conscience Protection, Says Think Tank

 When Parliament returns this fall it should take steps to better protect freedom of conscience, a vital component in harmonizing diverse views on various social and medical issues in Canada, a new report says.

Titled “Our Inner Guide: Protecting Freedom of Conscience” and published by public policy think tank Cardus, the report emphasizes the importance of freedom of conscience, noting that it appears in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and many other bills of rights.

“Yet, despite its universality, this human right is, by and large, universally neglected by courts, legislatures, and policymakers,” the report says.

“We aim to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of conscience in a liberal democracy and alert Canadians to the pressing need for this human right to be afforded due respect.”