I’m not religious, but I believe that people should be allowed to believe and practise their religion so long as it doesn’t interfere with the rights of peace and quiet enjoyment of the lives of others who believe differently.  I am disturbed by the rise of religious discrimination, if not bigotry, in the Province of Québec.

Québec’s Bill 21 effectively banned religious attire worn by employees of the provincial government who are in some position of authority over others.  It should be self-evident that such a law is a clear violation of human rights; indeed that thesis is supported by the provincial government’s invocation of the notwithstanding clause to protect the law against legal challenges to its own Charter of Rights as well as the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada’s Constitution.

The Québec Government argues that the fundamental human right of freedom of religious expression should be overruled by the state’s policy objective of laïcité, a secular state.

Now the Québec government chooses to go one step further: the Québec Education Minister has announced the intention of the government to ban student-initiated prayers in public schools.  The National Assembly unanimously passed a motion stating the providing places for prayer in public school premises goes against the principle of secularism.

First the ban limits the human rights of teachers in public schools.  Now the ban limits the human rights of students in public schools.  The way it’s going I wouldn’t be surprised if a ban on religious expression in all public places comes next.

In the meantime, the Premier of Québec, M. Legault, in an Easter Monday tweet (2023) praised Roman Catholicism for engendering a culture of solidarity in Québec that distinguishes the Province in all North America.

It appears that religious expression is allowed in Québec, but only for the privileged.