Bill 21 prohibits public servants in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols
Quebec may expand its ban on religious symbols to include certain school support staff, such as daycare supervisors and other aides, according to a report.
"We're thinking about it," said Education Minister Bernard Drainville on Radio-Canada's Tout un matin.
Drainville is concerned that there are some school staff members who are in positions of authority but are not currently subject to the government's religious symbols ban, according to a CBC report.
Bill 21 was passed in 2019 and prohibits public servants deemed to be in positions of authority – including teachers, police officers and judges – from wearing religious symbols such as the hijab, turban or kippah on the job.
Previously, an Alberta tribunal rejected a religious discrimination claim. Also, a worker’s religious discrimination complaint after he was fired for failing to comply with a mandatory vaccination policy has been dismissed by the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal.
Investigation into religious ideas in classroom
The Quebec minister’s statement follows a recent investigation into religious influence in Quebec schools. The Ministry of Education examined allegations at 17 schools after a report found that teachers at Bedford Elementary School in Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges had introduced religious ideas in the classroom, contributing to what was described as a toxic environment, according to the CBC report.
The ministry released its findings on Friday, with Drainville expressing concern over the results.
“There are aspects of the report that resemble what we saw with Bedford,” he said.
Among the key issues identified were cases of students wearing full veils inside classrooms – something Drainville said was unacceptable. Investigators also found that some teachers were omitting parts of the sexual education curriculum or avoiding topics like homosexuality due to religious beliefs. Additionally, some students were engaging in prayer at school, despite a government ban, said the CBC report.
The findings have led Drainville to push for new legislation to further strengthen secularism in the province’s education system.
Criticism of Quebec’s religious restrictions
The announcement has also drawn criticism from opposition parties, with some suggesting that the timing of Drainville’s comments was intended to divert attention from government mismanagement, including cost overruns related to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec’s (SAAQ) new online system, said the CBC.
"Today, as if by chance, the minister of education is using a report he’s had in hand for a month to talk to us about religious symbols in schools," said Ruba Ghazal, spokesperson for Québec solidaire.
"This won’t make us forget the $500 million in cost overruns and the whole IT mess you’re responsible for. I won’t give up until you call a public inquiry."
Minority advocates have also raised concerns that expanding the religious symbols ban could reinforce systemic discrimination, according to the CBC report. Salam El-Mousawi, co-founder of Muslim Awareness Week, warned that Bill 21 or An Act respecting the laicity of the State – the existing law prohibiting religious symbols for public servants in positions of authority – has already marginalised certain groups.
"Now they are trying to extend it," he said, arguing that the government was shifting focus from more pressing issues.
"Instead of focusing on resolving these main issues, they are targeting and bullying minorities," El-Mousawi added. "It’s unfortunate to see that happening."
Previously, Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for secularism, called Bill 21 an extremely important achievement.
“It currently preserves, I would say, social peace, it promotes coexistence. That’s why we absolutely must renew the notwithstanding clause,” he said, according to a Global News report.
