Quebec's Secularism Law: Deepening Divide or Upholding Values?

Thu Dec 11 2025 23:59:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The province of Quebec introduces further restrictions on public prayer and religious symbols, sparking debate around secularism and identity politics. The changes, framed as 'secularism 2.0', aim to reinforce the separation of church and state amidst rising tensions around religious expression rights in public spaces.

In a significant move, Quebec's Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government has proposed new measures aimed at augmenting secularism laws in the province. Dubbed 'secularism 2.0', the bill seeks to extend restrictions on public prayer and religious symbols, impacting public servants and activities in public spaces. Critics have condemned these measures as divisive and politically motivated ahead of upcoming elections. The debate underscores a longstanding tension between secularism and religious expression in Quebec, evoking discussions on cultural identity and inclusivity.

The Canadian province of Quebec plans to impose restrictions on public prayer and limit the exclusive offering of religion-based menus, like kosher and halal meals, in public institutions as part of its latest effort to strengthen state secularism.

The secularism 2.0 changes are part of a new bill introduced by the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec on Thursday, which expands a 2019 religious symbols law that has fueled fierce debate throughout the country.

The original law prevents judges, police officers, teachers, and public servants from wearing symbols such as the kippah, turban, or hijab while at work.

Canada's Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge of that law early next year.

Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for secularism, said in French at a news conference that the bill was part of an approach that respected individual as well as collective rights.

The measures proposed in Bill 9 would:

extend the ban on wearing religious symbols to staff in subsidized daycares
bar collective religious practices like prayer in public spaces, such as parks, without prior authorization from municipalities
prevent students and staff from wearing face coverings in daycare all the way through to post-secondary education

Roberge said the limits on public prayer were in reaction to recent protests in the province, where there has been debate over groups praying at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

It's shocking to see people blocking traffic, taking possession of the public space without a permit, without warning, and then turning our streets, our parks, our public squares into places of worship, he said.

The decision to strengthen the law has already faced criticism from the opposition Parti Québecois, which earlier this week accused the CAQ of creating division in an attempt to bolster support ahead of next year's provincial election.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims also criticized the bill, accusing the CAQ of doubling down on identity politics and division in a desperate attempt to regain the public's trust.

Since Bill 21 was passed six years ago, the issue of secularism has continued to simmer in the province.

Last year, 11 teachers - primarily of North African descent - at a Montreal elementary school were suspended after a government report said they had created a toxic environment for students and staff and largely avoided certain subjects like science and sex education.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said the teachers had tried to introduce Islamist beliefs and vowed to strengthen secularism measures in schools.

In August, a government-mandated committee released a report with recommendations including a ban on religious symbols for daycare workers and the phasing out of public funding for private religious schools.

And last month, the Legault government passed a law that extended secularism rules to staff who interact with students in public primary and high schools and barred students from wearing face coverings.

Bill 21 prohibits public officials in positions of authority - like judges, police officers, teachers, and public servants - from wearing symbols such as the kippah, turban, or hijab while at work. It also requires public services to be provided and received with the face uncovered.

The Quebec government invoked the notwithstanding clause - part of the Canadian constitution that allows the government to override fundamental freedoms of religion, expression, and association; the right to life, liberty and security of the person; and freedom from discrimination.

It essentially serves as an opt-out option that prevents courts from striking down the legislation on constitutional grounds.

Bill 21 does not mention any specific religion and includes symbols worn by a person of any faith, affirming the religious neutrality of the state. Critics argue it mainly targets religious minorities, and especially women of the Muslim faith.

The law has faced multiple legal challenges in Quebec, and Canada's Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case, which will depend on both the law itself and the use of the notwithstanding clause.

The debate over secularism - broadly, the principle that religion and government institutions should be separate - has significantly influenced public discourse in Quebec for nearly two decades. Known in the majority French-speaking province as laïcité, it has been a crucial value in Quebec society since the 1960s when the Catholic Church's strong influence began to wane in the province.

A September survey indicated that 68% of respondents deemed secularism an important value.

Similar legislation to Bill 21 is in place in various European Union countries. France passed a ban on veils, crosses, and other religious symbols in schools in 2004 and on face covering in public spaces in 2010.