Quebec Law 21 Controversy: Understanding the Debate

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[...] Is it really a law aimed at strengthening secularism within public institutions? Or should we see an attempt at discrimination by the government against a part of its population? In an article dated June 16 of this year, the Canadian media 'Info' publishes a video showing Prime Minister François Legault and Immigration Minister and CAQ parliamentary leader Simon Jolin-Barette congratulating each other on the adoption of the law. The Radio-Canada article speaks of « project of law 21 on the secularism of the State under gag and how the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has added the final details on the sanctions to be applied in case of non-compliance with the law, before approving it at the Quebec Assembly. [...]

[...] Quebec even saw a project for a charter establishing a list of Quebec values to try to clarify the place of religion in public institutions. Let's take one last little historical tour to understand the scope and all the sense of this contestation in Quebec and, more broadly, in Canada: we were debating the question of non-denominational schools in Upper and Lower Canada as early as the 18th century.18th century. A century later, the country establishes the total secularism of the government and the equality of all citizens before the law, in terms of religion, language or ethnic origin. [...]

[...] Why does Bill 21 in Quebec cause a great controversy in Canada? Why the law 21 of Quebec causes a great controversy in Canada The Law Respecting the State Religious Neutrality is a law adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec on June after the provincial election in Quebec. It acts on the prohibition of wearing religious signs by officials in positions of authority as well as by teachers in the public school network. Is this a law to strengthen secularism within the government? [...]

[...] More specifically, the author highlights an argument that is valuable in this debate on the justice and equity of the Quebec secularism law: that of democratic legitimacy in over-inclusion or under-inclusion today. With her own words: « It is important to note that the proposed reconceptualization of citizenship as an analogue to inherited property does not require us to reject the premise that we have special or greater obligations towards those who are defined as our fellow citizens in the political community (The Puzzle of Citizenship by Birthright, Ayelet Shachar, 2012). [...]

[...] Secularity applies in accordance with four principles: « the separation of the State and religions, the religious neutrality of the State, the equality of citizens and citizens, as well as the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion (based on the text of article 2 of law 21) This law is accompanied by a passage indicating also the « the right to secular parliamentary, governmental and judicial institutions as well as to secular public services (article 4 of law However, since its institution, this law has caused a great controversy within the country, and has put the issue of secularism and discrimination at the center of the political-social debate. This is especially highlighted by the fact that the English-speaking cities in the west of Montreal have asked to be exempted from the application of the bill, before it was even considered in the Assembly. Why does the Quebec law 21 cause a great controversy in the city, and more broadly in Canada? [...]