Quebec government tables controversial values charter

After months of public debate, speculation and consternation, Quebec's Parti Quebecois government has finally tabled Bill 60, their controversial values charter.

On Thursday, Quebec's Minister of Democratic Institutions Bernard Drainville introduced the charter — now called 'Charter Affirming The Values Of Secularism And The Religious Neutrality Of The State, As Well As The Equality Of Men And Women, And The Framing Of Accommodation Requests' — in the National Assembly.

As expected, if passed, the bill will essentially ban all public employees from wearing religious symbols in public institutions.

Specifically, according to the text of the bill, all public employees "must not wear objects such as headgear, clothing, jewelry or other adornments which, by their conspicuous nature, overtly indicate a religious affiliation."

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There is also an "obligation" for both personnel and the public to not have their faces covered.

The legislation allows for a transition period for organizations and municipalities as explained by the Globe and Mail:

Moreover — with regard to the crucifix hanging in the National Assembly and religious symbols worn by Members of the National Assembly — MNAs will have to make a decision on that.

The bill actually goes further — especially with regard to the accommodation and transition rules — than the PQ had initially indicated in a previous draft.

Last month, Drainville told reporters that he would strengthen the language in the legislation after three months of consultations elicited strong support. He said that 68 per cent of the 26,000 comments posted online during a public consultation, were "mostly" in favour limiting religious accommodation.

Surveys, however, suggest that the issue is much more divisive.

According to CTV News, the latest poll, from October, claims that 46 per cent of Quebec voters are in favour of the charter while 41 per cent are against.

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The proposed bill has especially created angst within Quebec's visible minority communities.

On Tuesday, according to the Montreal Gazette, the Muslim Council of Montreal held a press conference claiming that Islamophobia has surged in Quebec since debate about the Charter began in the summer.

[ Related: Uptick in attacks on Quebec Muslims tied to debate over PQ’s values charter ]

It's unlikely that the bill will pass as is, considering that the PQ only have a minority government.

The opposition Liberals have said that they would vote against it while CAQ leader Francois Legault has suggested that he is open to negotiating with the government.

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All three major federal political parties have previously spoken out against the charter.

On Thursday, Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney said he was concerned about the new legislation.

"We will be closely monitoring the outcome of this legislation," Kenney said according to the Globe and Mail.

"If the bill as currently framed, seeking to ban certain Canadians from participation in public life, becomes law, we will closely analyze it. If it is found to violate our Constitution and our constitutionally protected freedom of religion, we will challenge it."

The full text of Bill 60 can be seen here.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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