No more street prayers in Quebec: the CAQ super-minister of identity, Jean-François Roberge, has just passed his bill to strengthen secularism.
The legislation received the support of the Parti Québécois (PQ). The Liberals and Québec solidaire opposed it.
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Minister Roberge has already said that street prayers could be “acts of provocation”.
Municipalities will be able to authorize them, but according to certain criteria.
The new law will also ban the wearing of religious symbols by daycare educators. The government is also extending this ban to teachers and staff members in private schools. However, there will be a grandfather clause for employees hired before November 27, 2025.
The full veil will be prohibited in daycares, CEGEPs and universities for both those receiving and those providing services.
Religious content
The Legault government is also signaling the end of the free ride for subsidized private religious schools.
These schools will have three years to end the selection of their students and teachers based on their religious affiliation, as well as the teaching of religious content during class time. Otherwise, they will lose access to public funds.
Religious activities may still take place in these schools, but outside of class hours. They must also be optional and not be state-funded.
The minister is also putting an end to prayer rooms in CEGEPs and universities.
The Legault government is thus strengthening its Bill 21 on secularism, which prohibits the wearing of religious symbols for state employees in positions of authority, including judges, police officers and teachers.
Once again, Quebec shields its law from legal challenges with the notwithstanding clause.
“Parents are worried”
The PQ took some of the credit for the adoption of this piece of legislation.
“Let’s acknowledge that several ideas in this bill, which will become law, come from the Parti Québécois. We’re dealing with a government that, often when we put forward an idea, reacts by saying it doesn’t make sense. Then, ultimately, essentially adopts the lines we had initially. So, we think that’s indeed what needs to be done,” argued PQ member Alex Boissonneault.
For its part, Québec solidaire (QS) condemns the ban on religious symbols for daycare educators.
“Contrary to what the minister says, there will be educators in CPEs who will lose their jobs if they were hired after November 27 or if they change establishments. This is serious! While today, we have a crisis in our public services, parents are worried, women want to work and have someone to take care of their children in CPEs,” stated Solidarity spokesperson Ruba Ghazal.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
