Expanding the ban on the wearing of religious symbols in schools to cover all people who have contact with students equals intolerance
From the moment it was adopted, the English Montreal School Board has been vigorously opposed to Bill 21, An Act Respecting the Laicity of the State. The legislation bars public-school teachers, government lawyers, judges and police officers from wearing religious symbols while at work. The Quebec Superior Court struck down key provisions of Bill 21 on April 20, 2021. However, the Quebec Court of Appeal did not uphold that decision on February 29, 2024, setting in motion a request by EMSB, the National Council for Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to seek leave to appeal that ruling at the Supreme Court. The latter plans to hear this challenge to Quebec’s secularism law. Now comes news that the CAQ government plans to expand the current ban. The new measures, part of what is being called Bill 94, will bar a host of other workers from wearing such religious symbols as a crucifix, a hijab or turbans. The new list includes everyone from cafeteria workers, ...