Written by Ranjan K. Agarwal and Lauren R. Shneer

After 15 years and numerous court challenges, Henry Freitag has finally rid the Town of Penetanguishene of any prayer before town council meetings. In May 2013, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario found that the Town Prayer recited before town council meetings violated Freitag's rights under the Human Rights Code. This decision follows the Court of Appeal of Ontario's decision in 1998 declaring the recitation of the Lord's Prayer before town council meetings to be unconstitutional as contrary to Freitag's freedom of religion. Published in Charter and Human Rights Litigation, Volume XX, No. 1 2013.