Several federal and provincial lawmakers as well as veterans are condemning Veterans Affairs for calling Easter “March holiday season” in a social media post. The move follows the controversy that erupted last year when the Defence Department told military chaplains they can’t use the word “God” during official ceremonies.

In a March 29 post on X, Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC), the department responsible for pensions, benefits, and services for war veterans, commemorated the weekend as a holiday season rather than Easter—a Christian event that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“We want to wish Veterans, current members of the @CanadianForces and @rcmpgrcpolice and their families a happy March holiday season!” VAC wrote.

The post drew a barrage of criticism the following day. Many Conservative MPs condemned it.