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Quebec to bar public servants from wearing religious symbols | Quebec to bar public servants from wearing religious symbols |
(2 days later) | |
A Canadian province has introduced legislation that would bar civil servants in positions of "authority" from wearing religious symbols at work. | A Canadian province has introduced legislation that would bar civil servants in positions of "authority" from wearing religious symbols at work. |
The centre-right Coalition Avenir Quebec's bill covers judges, prosecutors, police officers, teachers and some other positions. | |
This is not the first time Quebec has pushed forward legislation to re-enforce state religious neutrality. | This is not the first time Quebec has pushed forward legislation to re-enforce state religious neutrality. |
Several groups are preparing to fight the proposed legislation. | Several groups are preparing to fight the proposed legislation. |
Bill 21 will prevent civil servants from wearing symbols such as head coverings like the kippah, turban, hijabs. | Bill 21 will prevent civil servants from wearing symbols such as head coverings like the kippah, turban, hijabs. |
Civil servants who currently wear religious symbols will be exempt from the bill. | Civil servants who currently wear religious symbols will be exempt from the bill. |
The Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government hopes to pass the legislation by summer. | The Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government hopes to pass the legislation by summer. |
The CAQ was elected last autumn in part on pledges to restrict immigration and impose a secular charter. Opinion polls suggest support for a secular dress code among Quebecers. | The CAQ was elected last autumn in part on pledges to restrict immigration and impose a secular charter. Opinion polls suggest support for a secular dress code among Quebecers. |
Quebec Premier Francois Legault told reporters the bill "represents our values and it's important." | Quebec Premier Francois Legault told reporters the bill "represents our values and it's important." |
His government issued one compromise on Thursday, tabling a motion that would see the crucifix that hangs in the provincial legislature moved once the bill is passed. | His government issued one compromise on Thursday, tabling a motion that would see the crucifix that hangs in the provincial legislature moved once the bill is passed. |
It is not yet clear what kind of response the bill might prompt from the federal government, though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticised it on Thursday morning. | It is not yet clear what kind of response the bill might prompt from the federal government, though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticised it on Thursday morning. |
"It is unthinkable to me that in a free society we would legitimising discrimination against citizens based on their religion," he told journalists in Halifax. | "It is unthinkable to me that in a free society we would legitimising discrimination against citizens based on their religion," he told journalists in Halifax. |
Who has spoken out against the proposed bill? | Who has spoken out against the proposed bill? |
A teachers labour union has already mounted a legal challenge over questions the provincial government put to a number of school boards and schools related to how many of their employees wore religious symbols at work. | A teachers labour union has already mounted a legal challenge over questions the provincial government put to a number of school boards and schools related to how many of their employees wore religious symbols at work. |
The Federation autonome de l'enseignement, which represents some 43,000 educators in the province, said it believed that type of query breached Canada's rights charter. | The Federation autonome de l'enseignement, which represents some 43,000 educators in the province, said it believed that type of query breached Canada's rights charter. |
The English Montreal School Board, the largest English public school board in the province, said on Thursday it will not implement the proposed measures. | The English Montreal School Board, the largest English public school board in the province, said on Thursday it will not implement the proposed measures. |
Jewish advocacy group B'Nai Brith called it "an assault on the fundamental rights and freedoms of Quebecers". | Jewish advocacy group B'Nai Brith called it "an assault on the fundamental rights and freedoms of Quebecers". |
And the National Council of Canadian Muslims called it "discriminatory legislation". | And the National Council of Canadian Muslims called it "discriminatory legislation". |
"Under the guise of secularism, this legislation is effectively a prohibition on wearing the hijab in the Quebec public service given the overwhelming number of people impacted will be Muslim women," executive director Ihsaan Gardee said in a statement. | "Under the guise of secularism, this legislation is effectively a prohibition on wearing the hijab in the Quebec public service given the overwhelming number of people impacted will be Muslim women," executive director Ihsaan Gardee said in a statement. |
That organisation launched the legal challenge against previous provincial Liberal legislation that banned face coverings. | That organisation launched the legal challenge against previous provincial Liberal legislation that banned face coverings. |
That legislation was stayed by a Quebec judge last summer. The group is now weighing its options for Bill 21. | That legislation was stayed by a Quebec judge last summer. The group is now weighing its options for Bill 21. |
The Quebec government is invoking the rarely used "notwithstanding clause" that allows it to override the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom for up to five years as a guard against legal challenges. | The Quebec government is invoking the rarely used "notwithstanding clause" that allows it to override the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom for up to five years as a guard against legal challenges. |
Not a first in Quebec | Not a first in Quebec |
The debate over secularism and religious accommodation has played a significant role in the province's public discourse for over a decade, and this is not the first attempt by a Quebec political party to restrict civil servants from wearing overt religious symbols. | The debate over secularism and religious accommodation has played a significant role in the province's public discourse for over a decade, and this is not the first attempt by a Quebec political party to restrict civil servants from wearing overt religious symbols. |
In 2014, the Parti Quebecois proposed a so-called Charter of Values, legislation that would have barred public servants from wearing religious symbols and made it mandatory to have one's face uncovered when providing or receiving a government service. | In 2014, the Parti Quebecois proposed a so-called Charter of Values, legislation that would have barred public servants from wearing religious symbols and made it mandatory to have one's face uncovered when providing or receiving a government service. |
In 2017, the provincial Liberals passed more narrowly focused legislation that barred people from wearing face coverings when giving or receiving a public service. | In 2017, the provincial Liberals passed more narrowly focused legislation that barred people from wearing face coverings when giving or receiving a public service. |
Similar legislation is in place in various countries across the European Union. | Similar legislation is in place in various countries across the European Union. |
France was the first, passing a ban on veils, crosses and other religious symbols in schools in 2004. | France was the first, passing a ban on veils, crosses and other religious symbols in schools in 2004. |
It was followed by Belgium, which outlawed any clothing that obscures a person's identity in a public place. Full or partial bans have since been passed in Austria, Bulgaria and Denmark. | It was followed by Belgium, which outlawed any clothing that obscures a person's identity in a public place. Full or partial bans have since been passed in Austria, Bulgaria and Denmark. |
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