December is now Christian Heritage Month in Toronto after councillors voted in favour of a motion that drew out a passionate debate — and some tears — on Thursday night.
Toronto is the latest Ontario municipality to recognize the month following a lobbying campaign from former councillor Jim Karygiannis on behalf of the non-profit organization Christian Music Festival. Karygiannis was removed from council in 2020 for violating campaign finance rules.
The motion was put forward by Scarbrough—Agincourt Coun. Nick Mantas and was seconded by Coun. Frances Nunziata, who represents York South—Weston.
It argues that “Christianity is the most followed religion in our country, with more than half of the Canadian population identifying as members of the Christian faith,” which is backed by Statistics Canada data.
The debate that preceded the 11-4 vote brought out strong arguments from some councillors on Christianity’s place in Canadian society and their personal lives.
Parkdale—High Park Coun. Gord Perks led the opposition to the motion.
Perks said he was wary of the request because Karygiannis was pushing it and argued the motion lacked information on the Christian Heritage Festival organization.
Humber River—Black Creek Coun. Anthony Perruzza, who supported the motion, repeatedly took issue with Perks’ remarks and interrupted his speech.
Nunziata, who serves as council speaker, asked Perruzza to stop several times and eventually threatened to kick him out of the chamber.
“Coun. Perruzza, I’m asking you for a second time. If you don’t stop, I’m going to ask you to leave the council chambers for disrupting council,” she said.
Christianity, Perks argued, is already so entrenched in Canadian society that a standalone month isn’t necessary.
“Canada as an entity is soaked and steeped in the Christian church. They do not need separate recognition. When we do something like recognize some different group, that is an effort to rebalance,” he said.
Perks also said the role Christianity played in colonization and served as the backbone of the residential school system is not something to celebrate.
Mantis, who sponsored the motion, said there was “no political intention behind this motion” and argued history shouldn’t get in the way.
“We all understand the history behind it, but it is time to move forward and to support the Christian faith, just like all the other faiths in Canada,” he said.
Perks also took exception to the wording of the month’s name.
He pointed to the Christian Heritage Party, a socially and fiscally conservative party founded in 1987. Perks said the party opposes abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, denies climate change and stokes hatred of Islam.
“Language matters. The phrase ‘Christian heritage’ is not a neutral phrase,” Perks said.
Toronto Centre Coun. Chris Moise also spoke out against the motion.
“Religion divides people. It always has,” he said.
Moise was a TDSB trustee and said the school board put a moratorium on heritage months because “once you open that Pandora’s Box, everybody wants recognition. The best way to avoid this Pandora’s Box … is to stay as far away from it as possible,” he said.
“We have many ways of showing love and acceptance to everyone in Toronto. I'm happy to celebrate Christmas this year. I'm happy to celebrate Eid. I'm happy to celebrate Hanukkah, but I don’t need to have a heritage month here to do that,” he said.
Willowdale Coun. Lily Cheng defended the motion and recounted how Christianity has affected her life.
“I feel like we're putting a whole faith on trial here,” she said. “Like so many faiths, we are all made up of imperfect people, and we and people make mistakes.”
Cheng said she was “upset” that Perks raised the spectre of residential schools.
“I think a lot of Christians feel very bad about this. But I don't think that's a reason to not have a chance to lift up the fact that so many people do hold December as a very special month,” she said.
Christianity helped Cheng through tough times as a child, she said, which brought her to tears.
“Kind, gracious, people loved me and showed me that I was worthy to be loved … They walked with me so patiently, and who I am today would not be without this faith that has carried me through the hardest journey of my life,” she said.
-with files from Allison Smith
