Officials in Quebec, Canada, have put forth new legislation aimed at curbing most religious expressions in public settings and universities. This also includes restrictions on the religious accommodations private companies can offer.
On Thursday, Proposal No. 9, known as the Quebec Faith Strengthening Act, was implemented to bolster Bill 21, which originally passed in 2019 under the title Faith in Faith Act.
Bill 21 specifically prohibited public sector employees, such as teachers and police officers, from wearing religious symbols or face coverings while on duty.
Bill 9 builds on this by extending the restrictions to a broader array of publicly and partially funded institutions. This includes areas like childcare centers and subsidized private schools, as well as private healthcare providers that are contracted.
The new law mandates that students at higher education institutions and childcare facilities must also uncover their faces when receiving services.
The discussion surrounding Bill 9 has raised concerns, particularly about its implications for Muslim women who often wear hijabs or burqas. Yet, it’s worth noting that these regulations could also affect Christians, Jews, and other religious communities.
The new regulations are likely to impact employees occupying the newly targeted roles who might wear religious symbols such as kippahs or visible crosses. Moreover, the bill stipulates that collective religious practices in public parks and roads require prior permission from local authorities.
Jean-François Roberge, the minister sponsoring the bill, indicated that the limits on public prayer are in response to groups praying during pro-Palestinian rallies.
He remarked, “It is shocking to see people blocking traffic and turning public spaces into places of worship without any notice.”
While this aspect of the bill could mainly affect Islamic communal worship, the professed aim of “religious neutrality” suggests that other types of worship—like outdoor church services or unsanctioned religious holidays—might also be affected.
Additionally, the legislation prohibits institutions from serving meals based on religious traditions, such as halal or kosher, in their catering services.
Bill 9 also plans to phase out public funding for private religious schools that incorporate religious content or choose students and staff based on their faith.
Currently, Quebec follows Canadian accommodation standards, which are more lenient. However, Bill 9 introduces a lower threshold of “more than minimal hardship,” possibly enabling workplaces to deny accommodation requests more easily.
This change could lead to stricter dress codes or reduced accommodations for dietary needs in some job settings.
The bill explicitly acknowledges its intention to override certain parts of both Canadian and provincial constitutions, as it incorporates a clause from the 1982 Constitution Act. This provision allows the government to temporarily suspend laws that might infringe upon fundamental rights outlined in the Charter.
Parliament unanimously voted in favor of introducing Bill 9, with 92 votes in support. The bill now awaits detailed examination and potential amendments by a committee, followed by further debate and a final vote on its adoption.
As of the latest updates, Roberge had not responded to requests for commentary.
