Administrators at the Federal Court have removed reference to Christmas holidays on the court calendar said Blacklock’s Reporter..“Given that litigants before the courts do not all celebrate Christmas, an amendment is required to change references to the court’s ‘Christmas recess’ to the more inclusive ‘seasonal recess,’” staff wrote in a legal notice..The change was first proposed last April 9, though court administrators have not explained who requested the change to “seasonal recess” removing reference to Christmas..The court did not comment on the amendment nor release any minutes of the hearing yesterday by its Rules Committee. Attorney General David Lametti, a Roman Catholic, also did not comment..Party leaders have approached the observance issue on their Christmas cards differently. While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bid “Season’s Greetings” on his 2020 card, opposition leader Erin O’Toole’s said “Merry Christmas” and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh wrote “Happy Holidays.”.Former Conservative MP Nina Grewal, while serving her four terms, made a tradition of lamenting the loss of Christian observances in her annual Christmas address to parliament..“The forces of political correctness continue with the relentless attack on the traditional,” Grewal said in her 2011 speech..“Judges remove Christmas trees from courthouses, school concerts are postponed to take away the Christmas theme, the lyrics of Christmas carols are changed, the distribution of candy canes is banned, and all the references to God, Christ and the Lord are removed.”.In 2013, Grewal said, “Christmas cannot be Christmas without Christ in it.”.“How can we justify wishing someone a happy Diwali, Vaisakhi, Eid or Chinese New Year while avoiding the words ‘Merry Christmas’?”.“I am a Sikh and I am not offended when people celebrate Christmas in a traditional way,” Grewal said in her 2014 address..“Instead of silly political correctness, all of us should feel proud in our traditions and beliefs and rejoice in this season of joy, peace and goodwill..“It is Christmas time and Canadians are decorating their homes, buying presents and baking Christmas treats. However, it is a shame that many feel the need to abandon their traditions to appease the sensibilities of non-Christians. Being respectful of the beliefs of others should not require anyone to water down their own beliefs.”.Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
