.:: Mission ::.

 

Who are we?

In October 2003, Homa Arjomand, Co-coordinator of the International Campaign Against Shari’a Court in Canada launched and continues to lead the campaign to get the Ontario Government to remove civil and family legal matters from the 1991 Arbitration Act. The Maritime Secular* Legal Network Association (MSLNA) is the newest chapter in the fight to keep religion outside of the law. 

*Secular means not related to religion.

 

 What?

We believe that there is no room for religion in Canadian law.  While the Ontario government allows religious adjudication in their province, we do not want Nova Scotia or other provinces to follow suit.  We also work with groups in Ontario who are trying to change the Arbitration Act 1991 to end religious adjudication. 

Our Mission is simple:

  • To ensure religious arbitration in family disputes is not allowed by the government of any Canadian province or by the federal government.
  • To foster civic debate on the issue of religious adjudication;
  • To embark on public education campaigns; 
  • To work with groups throughout Canada and abroad to end the practice of state sponsored religious adjudication. 

 

How?

To accomplish our mission, the issue of religious adjudication needs to be addressed by all of us living in a multicultural state like Canada.  The MSLN works to spark a much needed debate by organizing speakers, forums, and working with other groups to bring attention to the issue.  This includes presenting both sides of the debate so the public can better understand its implications. 

Why are we doing this?

Allowing minority groups to apply religious law to family disputes does two things:

  • First, it creates a two-tiered system, which in effect erodes women’s and children’s rights of equality under Canadian law;
  • Second, the practice is racist/xenophobic because it segregates/marginalizes minority groups by discouraging members in these communities to fully participate in Canadian society.

While at first glance, the Ontario practice may seem to accord with Canada’s official policy of multiculturalism, religious adjudication in effect results in communities becoming segregated from one another.  In other words, the Muslims will stick to the Muslims, the Catholics to the Catholics, and the Jews to the Jews.  This results because when you have your own laws, and your own courts, there is no need to go outside your community or to participate in Canadian civic society. 

 

Much has been written on this topic; see the links below for arguments from a diverse set of groups:

Pascale Fournier, “THE ERASURE OF ISLAMIC DIFFERENCE IN CANADIAN AND AMERICAN FAMILY LAW ADJUDICATION”, (2001) 10 Journal of Law and Policy Journal of Law and Policy 51.

Ayelet Shachar , “TWO CRITIQUES OF MULTICULTURALISM”, (2001) 23 Cardozo L. Rev. 253.

 

Top of the page