Poilievre Calls for End to ‘Anti-Christian Hate’ Following Latest Church Burnings

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is condemning “anti-Christian hate” following two church burnings in Canada and the United States in the past week, and called for more to be done to stop the arsons.

One hundred churches have been burned, Poilievre said, in response to a reporter’s question on recent church burnings during an unrelated Sept. 29 press conference. Christians may be the number one group that are victims of hate-based violence. But, of course, it’s not politically correct to say that.

Poilievre said in light of the ongoing arsons against churches in Canada, the “anti-Christian hate has got to stop” and said if elected, his government would do more to address it.

The latest incident occurred in the hamlet of Bellis, Alta., on Sept. 21, where a historic Ukrainian Orthodox church was destroyed by a fire. Three people have been arrested in the incident, and face several charges including arson, breaking and entering, theft, and mischief.

Meanwhile, at least four people were killed and at least eight injured on Sept. 28, when a gunman opened fire inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan and then set the building ablaze. Authorities have said the shooting is being investigated as “an act of targeted violence.”

Poilievre said the Liberal government has not done enough to condemn the attacks and protect Christians in Canada, accusing the Liberals of adopting “identity politics” that he says have “separated people into groups,” leading to violence in some cases. Poilievre said his government would bring in tougher sanctions for crimes like arson and “crack down on hate crime.”

“Frankly, Canadians of all faiths, including Christians, deserve to worship in peace,” Poilievre said.

The Liberal government has said that Bill C-9, dubbed the Combatting Hate Act, will provide protection to religious institutions like churches by creating a new crime for obstructing or intimidating those who seek to use faith-based institutions. The legislation would also make hate-motivated crime a specific criminal offence.

“It is disheartening when you read the news and see, day after day, stories about yet another victim suffering a hate crime at the hands of someone who is not simply conducting a criminal activity, but who’s motivated by their hatred towards an entire group of people,” Justice Minister Sean Fraser said at a Sept. 19 press conference.

The first wave of church fires started after the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announced in May 2021 that ground-penetrating radar had located possible burial sites of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The number of unmarked graves found at Kamloops was later revised to 200. 

Following 16 additional announcements of potential unmarked burial sites at former residential schools, there were a series of arsons and desecrations at churches across Canada. 

The sites have not been excavated and no remains have been found to date.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an address to the United Nations last week that all countries should protect religious liberty, including Christianity, which he said is “the most persecuted religion on the planet today.”