Last week, the Quebec government finally decided to avoid the hypocrisy argument that has plagued its attempts at banning religious symbols by taking down the crucifix that has hung in the legislature since the 1930s.
For years the cross was described as a “cultural” or “historical” artifact. An argument that fooled no one.
Last month, the provincial government passed its controversial “secularism” law, Bill 21, which bans public servants in a position of power – teachers, police officers and judges – from wearing religious symbols.
It’s a move that required the legislature to invoke the notwithstanding clause – effectively suspending the minority rights protected by the Charter Rights and Freedoms.
Opponents have taken the province to court using the only legal mechanism available to them: arguing that this kind of legislation is a federal jurisdiction, not provincial.
While Bill 21 prevents Quebec’s public servants from wearing religious symbols like crucifixes, yarmulkes and hijabs, many critics insist that the law is a veiled way for the province to target religious minorities – specifically Muslim women.
This is the fourth time the province has attempted “laïcité” legislation and each time opponents singled out the crucifix in the National Assembly.
At least this time the government had the courage to remove it from the legislature, where it stood as a glaring example of “Do as I say and not as I do.”
Premier Francois Legault called the legislation “moderate.”
“In Quebec, it’s been a long time since we’ve decided to separate religion and the state,” Legault said in March.
In case the Premier didn’t realize, there are still plenty of examples where the state and religion are closely intertwined.
Look no further than the preservation of the Catholic school boards across the province. If our elected representatives are so worried about religion and the state being too close for comfort, shouldn’t a religious education system be the first to go?
How about all of those wonderful holidays we get to enjoy?
If the Quebec government wants to do away with any ties between the state and religion, then say goodbye to Christmas, Easter and many of the other Christian traditions that are state sanctioned holidays.
But something tells me the province wouldn’t go this far.
Why, you ask?
Simple: that would affect everyone.
And if we’re being honest, the goal of this legislation is exactly what the critics say it is: a way to exclude religious minorities if they don’t look enough “like us.”
The fact that the province is only going through with mealy-mouthed platitudes to show how committed it is to “secularism” shows that it isn’t committed at all.
Chris Lowrey
