Several federal and provincial lawmakers as well as veterans are condemning Veterans Affairs for calling Easter “March holiday season” in a social media post. The move follows the controversy that erupted last year when the Defence Department told military chaplains they can’t use the word “God” during official ceremonies.
In a March 29 post on X, Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC), the department responsible for pensions, benefits, and services for war veterans, commemorated the weekend as a holiday season rather than Easter—a Christian event that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“We want to wish Veterans, current members of the
@CanadianForces and
@rcmpgrcpolice and their families a happy March holiday season!” VAC wrote.
The post drew a barrage of criticism the following day. Many Conservative MPs condemned it.
“Hey
@VeteransENG_CA it’s called Easter! Quit your tone-deaf and disrespectful posts,”
said defence critic James Bezan on X.
Veterans Affairs critic Blake Richards
wrote: “March holiday season?? Is this for real??”
Conservative deputy leader Tim Uppal called VAC’s post “woke nonsense.”
“It’s Easter. Have some respect. Stop this woke nonsense,” he
wrote on X.Michael Barrett, shadow minister for ethics and accountable government,
posted on social media: “Is
@VeteransENG_CA too woke to acknowledge either the cultural or religious significance of Easter?”
“53% of Canadians are Christian,“ he added. ”And nobody worth worrying about is offended by wishes of a Happy Easter.”
The percentage cited by Mr. Barrett matches the figure stated in the 2021 census data. Based on that data, Statistic Canada
stated in October 2022, that “in 2021, over 19.3 million people reported a Christian religion, representing just over half of the Canadian population (53.3%).”
Independent MP Kevin Vuong also
took to X on March 30. “Happy
#Easter to all who have served & continue to serve [Canada] today!” he wrote, retweeting VAC’s post.
Several provincial politicians commented on the post as well.
Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod questioned whether Veteran Affairs would extend well wishes to veterans who honour the Christian holiday.
“Easter? Do you wish Veteran’s a happy Easter? And before ... me - husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather all served King, Queen and country. They all observed Easter too,” she wrote.
B.C. Conservative MLA Bruce Banman panned the government for being “too afraid” to mention the name of the religious holiday.
“It’s absolutely pathetic that Trudeau’s Government is too afraid to say Easter,” he
wrote on X. “Why is it always Christian Holidays that get singled out by the left???”
Former Saskatchewan Premier
Brad Wall tweeted: “Happy Easter! See - that’s not so hard.”
‘Gone Too Far’
Some veterans also spoke out against VAC’s post.
“This has gone too far,” Eddie Cornell, co-founder of Veterans for Freedom,
said on X. “It’s called Easter!”
“What is the March Holiday Season?“ wrote veteran Tom Quiggin. “Did you mean Easter? Veterans Affairs, when they are not offering MAID to veterans seems to hate Christians as well.”
The Epoch Times contacted Veterans Affairs for comment but didn’t hear back by publication time.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a
statement on March 31 to observe Easter.
“Today, millions of Christians in Canada and around the world will celebrate Easter,” Mr. Trudeau said.
“Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter is a celebration of rebirth and beginning anew. The resurrection of Christ provides hope for our past, present, and future. It serves as an enduring reminder of the power of belief, forgiveness, and resilience. As the holiest day in the Christian calendar, Easter invites us to reflect on the values Christ lived by and died for, and to reaffirm these values in our lives – from loving our neighbours to taking care of those most vulnerable.”
Directive to Chaplains
The Epoch Times
reported last October that the Department of National Defence had directed chaplains not to use the word “God” and avoid making references to a “higher power such as ‘Heavenly Father.’”
On Oct. 11, a month before Remembrance Day, one of the most important military ceremonies, the Office of the Chaplain General issued a new policy that replaces public prayer with non-religious “spiritual reflections.”
“This is to ensure that all feel included and able to participate in reflection no matter their beliefs,” a department spokesperson told The Epoch Times at the time.
The move received backlash from the Conservatives, and by chaplains who
spoke with The Epoch Times.
“This woke mentality, or I don’t know how you want to call it, has really taken over the chaplaincy and they’re using threats and fear to really control and submit everyone into obedience,” said an active duty chaplain who asked for anonymity to avoid reprisal.
Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
