The Quebec government is set to introduce new measures to expand its secularism regulations in public institutions, including prohibiting prayer rooms in universities and CEGEPs and restricting the provision of religion-based meals. Radio-Canada has confirmed the details of the upcoming bill, which will be presented on Thursday, as initially reported by TVA and Le Journal de Montréal.
The proposed legislation aims to forbid religious symbols in communications by public institutions and prevent public institutions from offering meals solely based on religious traditions. Additionally, the bill will mandate that faces remain uncovered in the public and subsidized daycare system.
Furthermore, the government intends to prohibit religious practices in all public institutions, including prayer rooms in universities and CEGEPs, with exceptions for residential settings. The bill will also outlaw public prayer, with certain conditions allowing for exceptions.
This move comes after the passing of Bill 21 in 2019, a law that promotes state secularism by prohibiting certain public employees, such as teachers, police officers, judges, and others in authoritative roles, from wearing religious symbols during work. The law also prohibits face coverings that obscure identity, with medical reasons being the only exception.
In October, the Quebec government extended the ban on religious symbols to all individuals interacting with students in schools through Bill 94, which also prohibits students from wearing face coverings.
Existing employees are granted an exemption, but it is revoked if they are promoted or transferred. Recent developments revealed that the exemption only applies to individuals hired or promoted before the bill was introduced in March, not when it takes effect.
In August, a committee recommended 50 amendments to Bill 21 to enhance secularism in the province. The government’s latest actions continue to target the intersection of religion and public life in Quebec.