Owen Sound Deputy Mayor Arlene Wright calls it a sad day for Canada.
There will be no more prayers at Owen Sound council; not even a period of silent reflection.
On the advice of their lawyer, councillors made that decision after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that opening government meetings with a prayer infringes on freedom of religion.
Arlene Wright is not happy with having to make the decision. She notes four years ago council eliminated the Lord's Prayer from council meetings.
"At the time when the Lord's Prayer was taken out of council chambers as ordered by the courts, I said it was a sad day for Canada and I still believe it is a sad day for Canada when we are not allowed in a Christian country to say a Christian prayer," said Wright.
Owen Sound's lawyer even ruled out a period of silent reflection as somehow introducing religion into the proceedings.