State shouldn't tell women what to wear, Trudeau says as Quebec promises ban on religious symbols

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is urging Quebec's incoming premier to reflect carefully before using the notwithstanding clause to enforce a law that would prohibit public employees from wearing religious symbols such as a hijab or kippa.

François Legault has promised to implement such a ban on workers in positions of authority, including judges, prosecutors and police officers, as well as teachers.

"The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is there to protect our rights and freedoms, obviously," Trudeau said Wednesday.

He said he believes the state should not "tell a woman what she can or cannot wear."

Trudeau said the notwithstanding clause, "as I've said in the case of Ontario, should only be used in exceptional cases and after a lot of reflection and deep consideration of the consequences."

Coalition Avenir Québec, which won a majority in Monday's provincial election, wants to pass a secular charter that would go further than the Quebec Liberals' religious neutrality law, which is already the subject of a constitutional challenge.

The notwithstanding clause is rarely used in Canada but last month, new Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to invoke the constitutional provision to override a ruling that struck down the government's bill that would shrink the size of Toronto city council.

'We will do what it takes'

Members of Legault's party said Wednesday they were confident the law would not violate the charter, but that they would be prepared to invoke the clause if necessary.

"We always had a clear position on this. And now that we are the government, we will do what it takes," said Geneviève Guilbault, a CAQ MNA whose name has been floated as a possible deputy premier.

At his first meeting with caucus members on Wednesday, Legault stressed that his priorities for the CAQ government were improving the province's education and health-care sectors.

But his pledge to restrict religious symbols and cut the number of immigrants have drawn the most attention.

Anti-racism advocates are already planning a march in Montreal on Sunday against the CAQ's policies.

The CAQ faced questions on Wednesday about a supportive tweet for the party from the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Guilbault said the CAQ rejects "any association with Marine Le Pen and her political party."

"We are in Quebec a really inclusive and welcoming society," she said.

"Our main goal as a government is to integrate more, and better, the immigrants who chose to come here."