Persecuted atheists are now treated equally by Canada

Starting in 2018, those coming to Canada fleeing religious persecution in their home country could claim refugee status under the Less Complex Claims program. LCC is an expedited process that allows certain people to be recognized by Canada as refugees without a hearing. This is a good initiative, doing away with bureaucratic processes where they have been determined to be unnecessary. There was, however, a glaring gap in the program's coverage.

Atheists being persecuted for their non-belief were not eligible to apply to the Less Complex Claims Program.

In response to this injustice, Secular Connexion, in partnership with the Centre for Inquiry Canada, Humanist Canada, and the Canadian Secular Alliance (and with support from other Canadian humanist organizations), launched a petition with the House of Commons, calling for the government to "to ensure that non-believers are included in the list of people eligible for any special refugee status". 

The petition was presented to the House of Commons on February 8, 2022, and the government tabled its response on March 24, 2022. 

The response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship explicitly stated that Less Complex Claims applies to "claims from those who have chosen to be disassociated from a religious denomination or community, or those who hold no religious conviction, including non-believers."

This is a significant policy change that makes Canada's expedited refugee acceptance program more just and inclusive.

Bravo to SCS, CFIC, HC, and CSA for making Canada a fairer, more moral country.