Prayer Ban Still in Effect for Military Chaplains Ahead of Remembrance Day

A person touches the helmet on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after laying a poppy, at the National War Memorial following the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on Nov. 11, 2022. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

Military chaplains participating in upcoming Remembrance Day ceremonies are still prohibited from reciting a prayer, a year after the new policy caused a stir.

After the introduction of the new directive in October 2023, backlash caused Chaplain General Brig.-Gen. Guy Bélisle to permit a one-time use of the previous policy allowing prayer for Remembrance Day that year. Bélisle also said he would strike a committee to review the new policy.