Tai Chi and religion in Canada: another view: FLK Institute of Taoism

In October 2021 we posted an article on Institut de taoïsme Fung Loy Kok c Ville de Montréal 2021 QCCS 3873 (CanLII), in which a judge in the Québec Superior Court concluded that Tai Chi was to be regarded as a “religion” for the purposes of exemption from property, municipal and school taxes on the grounds that Tai Chi was an element of Taoism. At [227], the Court cited Iacobucci J in Syndicat Northcrest v Amselem 2004 SCC 47 (CanLII), at [50], that:

“… the State is in no position to be, nor should it become, the arbiter of religious dogma. Accordingly, courts should avoid judicially interpreting and thus determining, either explicitly or implicitly, the content of a subjective understanding of religious requirement, “obligation”, precept, “commandment”, custom or ritual. Secular judicial determinations of theological or religious disputes, or of contentious matters of religious doctrine, unjustifiably entangle the court in the affairs of religion”. Continue reading