Members of a dissenting Hutterite community in northern Alberta who object to having driver’s licence pictures taken on religious grounds have been overruled, CBC News reported July 24.
The decision was reached after a four to three vote in the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Hutterian Brethren of Wilson Colony believe the provincial requirement for digital driver’s licence photos prevents them from freely practicing parts of their religion. Hutterites interpret the Bible’s second commandment, which states “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,” to mean they must avoid having pictures of themselves willingly taken. The Supreme Court’s ruling is an important measure against the risk of identity theft posed by licences lacking photos.
Granting the Wilson Colony Hutterites an exception to Alberta law would also set the precedent for other small groups to reasonably seek exemptions when their beliefs collide with established statutes.
Alternative methods of personal identification on licences, such as fingerprinting, may be more inclusive to religious groups like the Hutterites. But making province or nationwide concessions for a minority population seems exorbitant when considering the likely costs involved.
This situation highlights the joys and pains of living in a cultural mosaic like Canada. It’s commendable populations with unique religious beliefs can live side by side and resolve disagreements in a peaceful way through the democratic process.
At the same time, a multicultural country’s diverse population presents practical challenges when it comes to developing universally acceptable laws.
Part of living in a society is the agreement to live under one congruent set of laws. We shouldn’t expect our country to offer a bargaining system for rights and freedoms in which citizens can opt in and out of legal rules as they see fit.
In electing to drive, one chooses to comply with the rules of the road, including the necessity of having an identifying picture taken. The Hutterites of Wilson Colony face the reasonable choice of whether or not to apply for valid driver’s licences, as driving is a luxury rather than a necessity.
It seems the choice between a deep-seated religious conviction and the desire for four-wheeled convenience is clear as a digital photograph.
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