Major religions of the world on a crossroads sign. (Fotolia.com)

GRIMSBY, ONT. - A Grimsby, Ont., atheist looking to strike down a school board policy on religious materials took his fight to human rights court Tuesday.

The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal in St. Catharines opened hearings for Rene Chouinard, who is seeking to quash the District School Board of Niagara policy that allows distributing religious materials under strict conditions.

The case hinges on a 2009 incident in which Chouinard refused to sign a consent form allowing his elementary school-age daughter to receive a Gideons International Bible at her school.