Anglican Diocese of N.S. and P.E.I. adopts pledge banning inappropriate use of NDAs

CITYnews halifax / By Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press

The head of a Canadian advocacy group says this weekend marked an important step forward as the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island passed a resolution not to misuse non-disclosure agreements.

Julie Macfarlane of Can’t Buy My Silence Canada said Sunday a member of the diocese told her the membership unanimously passed a resolution to not use NDAs unless requested by a complainant in cases involving sexual harassment, misconduct or abuse, discrimination, retaliation or bullying.

“I’m delighted, absolutely delighted. This is very promising, and I’m really hoping this will encourage others to take this step,” Macfarlane said in an interview Sunday.

The resolution was passed Saturday during the diocese’s weekend of meetings, which is called a synod. In an email viewed by The Canadian Press, a diocese member emailed Macfarlane to inform her that the resolution not to misuse NDAs passed unanimously at the diocese synod Saturday.

Macfarlane said movement among Christian organizations to ban the inappropriate use of NDAs is particularly impactful given that non-disclosure agreements have been used to silence victims of abuse in the church.

Macfarlane, who is a survivor of sexual abuse by an Anglican minister, said she hopes the regional Anglican diocese is the first of many religious organizations in Canada to commit to the non-disclosure agreement pledge.

“I have been working now for many years with the Anglican church, because my case was against the Anglican church. It was an Anglican minister, he was actually convicted and eventually imprisoned, so I think the message this sends (to fellow survivors) is that we’re going to do better now,” she said.

The diocese did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

In a statement issued by Can’t Buy My Silence on Friday, diocese member Cynthia Pilichos said she would be speaking in favour of adopting the ban on inappropriate NDA use at the synod because the pledge is in line with the organization’s commitments to ensure justice, respect and dignity for all.

“Pledging not to use non-disclosure agreements to cover up sin, silence victims, or avoid accountability is a significant step forward,” Pilichos said in the statement.

While Macfarlane applauds the move by the diocese, she said the church made an amendment to the original proposed pledge that she “would not have encouraged them to make.”

This change in wording is to allow for NDAs to be used if the complainant wants one issued, Macfarlane said.

“The reality is, a complainant can be protected in a victim-protective clause. It doesn’t have to require them to protect the other side in exchange,” as is the agreement of an NDA, Macfarlane said.

“That change, I think, was not necessary,” she said, adding that it’s positive progress all the same.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2025.

Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press