Canada Christian College

The college is currently an accredited private degree-granting institution listed by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities and is permitted only to grant degrees "in the field of religious studies and research in higher Christian learning."[12]

In 2020, the government of Doug Ford introduced a bill in the Ontario legislature which, if passed, would give the institution university status with the power to confer Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Former Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne criticised the proposal, asking, in reference to college president Charles McVety, “Why (would) this government ... extend the mandate of the most publicly and vocally homophobic man in Ontario?”.[13] Wynne stated that “McVety is a man who has repeatedly made vile comments about the LGBT community, about Islam and has propagated hatred.”[14] Ford was accused of giving McVety a quid pro quo and granting the Canada Christian College university status as a reward for McVety's past political support of Ford's leadership campaign as well as of his Progressive Conservative government with Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath alleging "a backroom deal" between Ford and McVety.[14] and Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner saying "This is the most blatant example of political back-scratching in Ford's tenure" and Ontario New Democratic Party MPP Catherine Fife calling the proposal "an attempt to do a favour for a political ally."[15]

The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations stated in a letter to Premier Ford that they are "alarmed that your government is intending to discreetly pass legislation that would allow the Canada Christian College to call itself a "university" and award degrees," adding that "The Ontario government should not grant accreditation and degree-granting privileges to institutions that do not meet the anti-discriminatory and anti-hate speech principles outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code,"[15] The government was also criticized for introducing the bill without the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board having completed review of the college's request to create new Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs or its request to change its name to the Canada University and School of Graduate Theological Studies.[16] Liberal leader Steven Del Duca said “it certainly looks suspicious, which is troubling” that the government would introduce enabling legislation before the college has even been approved by the PEQAB.[14]

McVety responded to the objections, saying that “the college, its president, staff, and faculty value all individuals, including the LGBTQ community.” He stated further that “this Ontario legislation is based upon fairness, not favouritism. It is an initiative that does nothing more than correct a systemic problem plaguing some long-standing degree-granting institutions that are called colleges, and not universities."[13] Speaking about the proposed name change, he stated that “It is unconscionable for students, the majority of whom are visible minorities or new Canadians, to have their hard-earned Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees marginalized due to outdated naming practices.”[17] Concerning political opposition, he said that “it is sad that the NDP and MPP Kathleen Wynne would recklessly damage the lives of hundreds of students and thousands of graduates with mindless, hateful name calling, all while reading directly from a disreputable source, Wikipedia.”[13]

In 1991, the college was the subject of complaints by the Canadian Jewish Congress for its plans to have a "Jewish studies" department which, it was alleged, would be teaching classes meant to train students to convert Jews to Christianity. Bernie Farber of the CJC said of the college "We will take on any group whose aim is to destroy Judaism, philosophically, spiritually or directly." Rev. Malvern Jacobs and Rev. Edward Brotsky were the dean and vice-dean of the new department and were described as messianic Jews.[20] Jacobs later served as dean of Canada Christian College.[21]

In 1998, the Canadian Jewish Congress opposed a private members bill that would have conferred degree-granting status on Canada Christian College. The Congress alleged that the college's Jewish Studies Department had been promoting the proselytization of Jews. The CJC withdrew its opposition after the college agreed to disband the department.[7][11] McVety told Canadian Jewish News, "We want to make it very clear that the Canada Christian College does not approve of or engage in any process to convert Jews to Christianity."[22]

In 2003, McVety joined with B'nai Brith to participate in its countermissionary campaign and voiced his opposition to groups such as Jews for Jesus.[23] "As a committed Christian I support the idea of preaching Christianity, but preaching Christianity under the guise of Judaism to those who are in fact seeking Judaism, is plainly wrong," said McVety.[24]

In 2008, Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B'nai Brith Canada, was appointed the Chair of the newly inaugurated Department of Modern Israel Studies; he was promoted to dean in 2015 and remained with the college until 2019.[25]

College president Charles McVety is national chairman of Christians United for Israel - Canada,[26] a pro-Israel advocacy organization and the Canadian affiliate of the American Christian Zionist organization led by John Hagee. The college houses the Canadian seminary outreach program of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, one of the foremost humanitarian organizations operating in the Middle East.

In 2011, Canada Christian College invited and hosted Geert Wilders, an anti-Islam politician[27] who has called for the banning of the Koran. During his speech, Wilders said that moderate Islam does not exist,[28] and that Canadian Muslims were a danger to democracy.[29]

Charles McVety, president of the Canada Christian College, has said,

Islam is not just a religion, it’s a political and cultural system as well and we know that Christians, Jews and Hindus don’t have the same mandate for a hostile takeover.[27]

The Toronto Muslim community rejected the above comment, stating they had no intention of any hostile takeover.[27] Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations also expressed concern at the remarks made by McVety.[30]

In December 2017, the auditorium of Canada Christian College was rented to host Pamela Geller, who is known for her anti-Muslim views, to speak at an event.[31][32]