Jesusland North?  The Christian Right in

Canadian Politics

Jonathan MalloyFulbright Visiting Professor, Center for Canadian Studies

Duke University

Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Carleton University, Ottawa

Jesusland:

Where does Canada Fit?

Canada: Jesusland North?

2006 election of evangelically-influenced Conservative government

Attempts to reverse legalization of same-sex marriage

Increased mobilization and activity by Christian Right

Religion in Canada: Traditional

• Prior to 1960s, similar or higher levels of religiosity in Canada compared to U.S.– Higher church attendance

– Political and social rhetoric rooted in Christianity

– Multiple church-state connections

• “More observant…and more orthodox” (Mark Noll)

• Particularly strong Catholic presence in French-speaking Quebec

Religion in Canada: Since 1960s

• Dramatic decrease in religiosity in Canada– Church attendance now well below U.S.– Absence of religious rhetoric and behavior in Canadian public

life

• Most dramatic changes in Quebec

• Strong secularization trend across Canada

Evangelicals

Growing evangelical population in Canada since 1970s, as in USA

Approximately half the proportion found in the USA (10-15% vs. 20-30% of population) – about 3-5 million people

Strong cross-border subculture and connections

Christian Right

• Unlike the USA, no major Christian Right emerged in Canada in the 1980s and 1990s

• Small groups and campaigns, especially anti-abortion demonstrations

• Very little involvement in electoral politics

Why no 1980s Christian Right?

• Smaller resources and economies of scale

• Fewer political opportunities and openings in parliamentary system of government

• Different political orientations and objectives

Resources

• Self-evidently less human and financial resources

• Linguistic and regional divides

Parliamentary System

• Party discipline reduces freedom of MPs to pursue evangelical-friendly agendas

• Permanent senior bureaucracy reduces ability to appoint evangelicals to key posts

• Judges: no legislative hearings means less politicization of judicial appointments

Orientations/Objectives

• Canadian theological traditions and outlooks differ from American

– Less fundamentalist-modernist splits

– Less anti-state orientation

– Absence of civil religious myths

• Different Canadian political culture; less polarized and more multi-party and regionalized

• Resistance to “Americanization” of politics among both evangelicals and non-evangelicals

1980s/1990s Activism

• Evangelical groups active against abortion and gay rights, although not very visible or effective

• But little growth of a larger Christian Right

• New party - Reform – had strong evangelical presence but religious dimension downplayed both publicly and privately

Two approaches to evangelicals in Canadian politics

Manning(Reform leader, 1987-2000)

Day(Alliance leader, 2000-2002)

2000s

A real Canadian Christian Right?

2000s - New Growth?

1. Increased Evangelical Presence in Conservative Party

2. Attempts to roll back same-sex marriage

3. Increasing American-style activism

Conservative Party

Conservative Party

Split and reunification of the Conservative Party has increased evangelical presence

Progressive Conservative

Party

Reform PartyCanadianAlliance

Party

Progressive Conservatives

Conservative Party

1980s 1990s 2004

Progressive Conservative

Party

Reform PartyCanadianAlliance

Party

Progressive Conservatives

Conservative Party

1980s 1990s 2004

Evangelicals

Continuing line of evangelical party leaders

Evangelicals and the Conservatives in 2007

• Prominent evangelical cabinet ministers and MPs

• More open evangelical identification with Conservatives and activism within party

• Decreasing involvement in other parties

But…

• Overall, evangelicals remain small within the party

• Influence and autonomy limited by institutional rules

• Harper “hidden agenda” is more economic than social

Same-Sex Marriage

Same-Sex Marriage

Early 2000s –exclusion of same-sex couples ruled unconstitutional by various courts

2004 – Supreme Court of Canada agrees; up to Parliament to decide how to proceed

2005 – Same-sex marriage bill passes in Parliament

Parties

Conservative Party – Left to individual members; most opposed to same-sex marriage

Liberal Party – PM and cabinet support legislation; significant minority opposed

NDP and Bloc Quebecois – strong support

Party Support for Same-Sex Marriage

Opposed

Conservatives

Liberals

NDP

Bloc Quebecois

In Favor

Elections

2004 - ElectionAfter court rulings but before legislation

- important but not crucial election issue

2005 – Legislation

2006 - Election Conservatives pledge new vote on issue

Evangelical Lobbying on Same-Sex Marriage

Evangelical groups strongly opposed

Unlike most issues, same-sex marriage provided clear political opportunity – electing and lobbying individual MPs

Free Vote

• Rare opportunity for MPs to vote freely without party discipline

• Nominating, electing and lobbying MPs thus unusually important

• Allows evangelicals to use more American-style direct tactics

Vote #2

Throughout 2006, Conservatives repeatedly promise vote

Finally held on week’s notice in December 2006

Defeated; same-sex marriage stands

Interpretations

Minor Setback

Conservatives will wait for parliamentary majority and hold new vote

Hidden agenda

Manipulation

Conservatives held quick vote to fulfil election promise; no intention of success

Issue closed

New Groups/New Activism

http://www.concernedchristians.ca/pages/campaigns/traditionalMarriageFight.htm

Groups (examples)

Older

Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

Focus on the Family Canada

New

4MYCanada

Equipping Christians for the Public Square

Concerned Christians Inc.

National House of Prayer

The New Activism

Older

Services and programs

Charitable tax exemption

Broad and restrained approach to politics

New

Exclusively political focus

No tax exemption

Extensive involvement in right-wing politics

The New Activists

• Charismatic leader/spokespersons

• Media and communications savvy

• Mobilizing through churches and personal networks

• Identifiably “Christian Right”

But

• Shallow, lacking broad leadership and membership base

• Mobilized primarily by same-sex marriage votes

• Long-term prospects unclear

Evangelicals vs Christian Right

• Distinction unclear in both Canadian and U.S. politics

• In Canada, evangelical conservatism on abortion/sexual orientation does not extend to generally conservative politics

Long-term

• Institutional factors provide strong explanation for Canadian trends

• Strong barriers to evangelical political mobilization

But

• Doctrinal and sociological differences between Canadian and American evangelicals– Less anti-state orientation– Limited civil religious myths

• Different Canadian political culture

Jesusland North?

• Unlikely

• Institutional rules and political culture play important roles

• Evangelicals alive and well in Canada, but politically different