SURREY — A Surrey man, an ordained minister in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, is involved in a holy war of sorts with ICBC over his right to wear his religious headgear — a spaghetti strainer — in his B.C. driver’s licence photo.
Obi Canuel, 36, walked into an ICBC office last November with a colander on his head. He was there to renew his licence and update his photo.
ICBC’s website says: “ICBC affirms your rights to religious expression. You will not be asked to remove any headgear that does not interfere with facial recognition technology as long as it is worn in conjunction with religious practice.” Canuel said because of that statement, he didn’t think it would be a problem.
Pastafarians, as church members are known, have the right in the U.S., Czech Republic, New Zealand and Austria to wear colanders in driver’s licence photos.
ICBC, however, doesn’t appear to be as friendly to the Pastafarian cause.
Nine months later, Canuel still doesn’t have a licence.
“I kept being told it was under review,” said Canuel, adding that he has made dozens of calls to the Crown corporation since last November. “Each time, I was put on hold for at least 20 minutes. It was very difficult to get a clear answer as to what was going on.”
In July, he received the bad news in the form of a letter from ICBC. The corporation wasn’t going to approve the photo of him with the colander on his head.
“Based on the information you have provided, we understand there is no religious requirement that prohibits you from removing the colander for the purpose of taking the photo to appear on your driver’s licence," the ICBC letter stated. “However, you may attend the nearest ICBC Driver Licensing Office and have a free duplicate photo captured without head coverings and we will then issue you a driver’s licence with the new photo.”
Contacted by the Vancouver Sun, ICBC refused to answer any questions related to Canuel’s file.
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which was formed in 2005, may not have the same cachet as the world’s major religions. After all, followers say they worship a giant spaghetti monster that created the universe 4,000 years ago while drunk.
But the church was officially registered as a non-profit society in British Columbia last year.
“I don’t think ICBC should be deciding which religions are appropriate or not,” said Canuel, one of five church directors listed with B.C. Registry Services. The photo denied by ICBC was approved for use on his B.C. Services Card.
Canuel, who has a philosophy degree from Simon Fraser University, isn't giving up his fight and has uploaded a video detailing his struggles with ICBC — including audio from his numerous dealings with phone representatives — onto YouTube at bit.ly/1lVWnnz.
“I have tried to go through the proper channels and have gotten nowhere. For that reason I've taken this private little dispute public,’ Canuel says at the end of the five-minute video.
