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There is, Gary Smith says, no good reason for ICBC to refuse his request to wear his headgear for his driver’s licence photo.

His headgear, a colander, is part of his religion: Smith is a Pastafarian, a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

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ICBC has informed him it doesn’t qualify as religious headgear, have refused to accept a photo of him wearing it for his licence, and Smith has now filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.

“My religious head covering is an expression of my beliefs,” he said. “I am being denied the right to express myself in a manner afforded to members of other beliefs and other faiths …

“There is no test of faith that any government agency, including ICBC, can apply to judge whether or not a person earnestly believes what they profess when they ask to be photographed with a religious head covering.”

Smith pointed out he is pictured wearing headgear (a pirate hat) on his B.C. Marriage Commissioner licence and on his RCMP-approved Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence.