Jean-François Roberge. Courtesy of Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press | via CBC News

 

Quebec is set to tighten its secularism laws, aiming to restrict public prayer and limit religious menus in public settings. The "secularism 2.0" bill, introduced by the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ), extends a controversial 2019 religious symbols law. This older law already stops judges, police, teachers, and public servants from wearing religious symbols while on duty.

 

The Supreme Court of Canada will review this original law early next year. Jean-François Roberge, the minister in charge of secularism, stated that the new bill respects both individual and collective rights. Bill 9 plans to stop religious symbols in subsidised daycares, ban public prayers in areas like parks unless authorised, and prevent face coverings in educational settings, from daycares to post-secondary institutions.

 

Roberge’s comments followed recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations featuring public prayer. He expressed concern over protests taking over public spaces without permits and creating makeshift places of worship. The opposition, Parti Québecois, criticised the CAQ, suggesting the move is divisive and aimed at boosting electoral support.

 

The National Council of Canadian Muslims has accused the CAQ of using identity politics to gain public favour. Since the passage of Bill 21 six years ago, secularism has remained a contentious issue in Quebec. Last year, 11 teachers in Montreal were suspended for allegedly fostering a "toxic environment" due to religious influences.

 

Premier Francois Legault has vowed to reinforce secularism in schools, following a report this August recommending a ban on religious symbols for daycare workers and cutting public funding for religious schools. Recently, the Quebec government also extended these secularism rules to staff interacting with students in primary and high schools, taxing religious face coverings, reported the BBC.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Quebec's proposed Bill 9 aims to further restrict public prayer and religious symbols.
• The opposition and certain Muslim groups criticise it as divisive and politically motivated.
• Canada's Supreme Court will review the existing secularism law next year. 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-11-28

 

 

 

Good for Quebec but similar legislation will be needed in the rest of Canada so  religious nutters don't move there.

WHY TF would anybody wish to pray in public?!? Prayer is a silent and respectful devotion between a person & their creator.

 

Dunno about PQ, but in BC Sikh RCMP are allowed to grow their hair & beards, wear turbans, carry the bracelet and knife. So, should policewomen be permitted the burqa? That's really a hard one.

 

The public craves uniformity of image, e.g., soldiers. How much should be allow members of those groups free expression? Police in bell bottoms is somehow different.

 

Back to prayer--go pray at home, whatever your mythology!

1 hour ago, The Old Bull said:

Good for Quebec but similar legislation will be needed in the rest of Canada so  religious nutters don't move there.

 

Quebec is under attack.  The more immigrants that enter the Province the more it afects the Franco language.  Also it is a bery strict Roman catholic society.

 

They can't say they will ot accept immigrants however, I think the idea is to make them feel less wanted.

1 minute ago, unblocktheplanet said:

WHY TF would anybody wish to pray in public?!? Prayer is a silent and respectful devotion between a person & their creator.

 

Dunno about PQ, but in BC Sikh RCMP are allowed to grow their hair & beards, wear turbans, carry the bracelet and knife. So, should policewomen be permitted the burqa? That's really a hard one.

 

The public craves uniformity of image, e.g., soldiers. How much should be allow members of those groups free expression? Police in bell bottoms is somehow different.

 

Back to prayer--go pray at home, whatever your mythology!

 

The challenge is and we see it in the U.S. as well. Protestors are saying we are not protesting we are having a prayer session on the road during rush hour.

 

CAQ is a very Franco based party.  It is actually funny that theParti Quebecois are against his as they are were the main party for sepearation from Canada and socialism to protect the Quebecoise heritage..