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December will be Christian Heritage Month in Toronto – but only after a surprisingly emotional half-hour at City Council.
After Gord Perks unspooled a rant about Canada and its history with the Christian faith, a tearful Lily Cheng, who represents the Willowdale ward, rose to tell council: “Christianity saved my life.”
The idea of Christian Heritage Month was brought forward in a member’s motion by Councillors Nick Mantas and Frances Nunziata. Shortly after 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Perks began the debate by questioning the nature of the proposal, which he said was the subject of a lobbying effort by former councillor Jim Karygiannis.
Perks brought up Karygiannis’ campaign expense violation and public criticism of the singer Beyonce, drawing the ire of Anthony Perruzza.
“It’s simple, Speaker,” Perruzza said. “If the councillor wants to talk about City Council proclaim(ing) December as Christian Heritage Month, he should do that … I don’t know what relevance (Karygiannis) has to this.”
Perruzza continued to complain about Perks’ discussion of the lobbying effort, leading Nunziata, the Speaker, to exclaim: “Councillor Perruzza, please!”
Perks continued: “A member of council came up and said, what’s wrong with this? There’s Hindu heritage month … These are not equal questions.”
Perks’ speech devolved into a tirade about the validity of the founding of Canada, the Constitution, residential schools, prayer in schools, his birth certificate, even abortion and global warming.
“In Canada, every day, every minute, every second, every law, everything we do is Christian time. It is the law of this land,” Perks said, suggesting recognition of other identities is an “effort to rebalance” the country.
“Language matters. The phrase ‘Christian heritage’ is not a neutral phrase in the Canadian political landscape,” Perks added, referring to the socially conservative Christian Heritage party.
“That party is anti-abortion, anti-same-sex marriage, says that Islam is a threat to democracy, denies that climate change is caused by CO2.”
Perks then suggested others Google the phrase “Christian Heritage Front,” an apparent reference to the defunct white supremacist group called Heritage Front.
At one point during Perks’ remarks, Nunziata threatened to ask Perruzza to leave the chambers due to his disruptions.
“Tell you what … do that,” Perruzza shot back.
Mantas, appearing remotely, said he understood Perks’ concerns but insisted “there is no political intention in this motion.”
Cheng then rose to speak, saying: “This is actually a very difficult debate to me because I feel like we’re putting a whole faith on trial here.”
She noted that 34.9% of Torontonians, according to the 2021 census, identify as Catholic or Christian. (A number of Christian denominations aren’t included in this figure.)
“I can say for myself that Christianity saved my life,” Cheng said. “I struggled with eating disorders and depression. I had a lot of challenges because I had adverse childhood events that I didn’t even know were having such a difficult impact on me.”
Cheng then paused, wiping away tears as Councillor Josh Matlow came to comfort her.
Cheng continued: “Kind, gracious people loved me and showed me that I was worthy to be loved, that I didn’t even know that, and they walked with me so patiently, and who I am today would not be without this faith that has carried me,” including through her mother’s battle with ALS.
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She acknowledged “dark things” of the past but added, “There’s so much good and beauty in Christianity,” highlighting the outreach to the needy in her neighbourhood.
“So, I don’t think it’s something to be ashamed of to say I’m Christian,” Cheng said. “I am proud of the values of love, of sacrifice, of caring for your neighbours, and I think those are worthy things that we should celebrate in December, when so many people, even those who aren’t Christian, look forward to the message of faith, hope and love that is carried around the world on Dec. 25.”
Chris Moise told council Toronto is a welcoming city, but, with a gesture to the area behind him where Perks and Cheng sit, “when you bring religion into this chamber, that’s what happens. Religion divides people. It always has.”
He said he and Rachel Chernos Lin, who was appearing in her first council meeting after a recent byelection, know from their time at the Toronto District School Board that honouring groups of people with a special month can be difficult.
“Once you open that Pandora’s box, everybody wants recognition,” Moise said.
Chernos Lin apparently saw things differently, as when the vote was held just before 10 p.m., she was part of the majority as the motion passed 11-4. (Moise, Perks, Jon Burnside and Shelley Carroll voted against, with 11 councillors not casting a vote.)
Cheng and Perks did not respond to requests for comment to the Toronto Sun.
But Councillor Stephen Holyday, who spoke to Cheng on the council floor shortly after her remarks, told the Sun the motion was “handled with the opposite of grace.”
“The entire debate is embarrassing,” he added. “It brings council into disrepute.”