Group leading lawsuit against Bill 21 welcomes financial support from Canadian municipalities

One of the groups leading a lawsuit against Quebec’s Bill 21 is praising the City of Brampton and other Canadian municipalities for opposing what they believe is a discriminatory law.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) says the proposal by Patrick Brown, the mayor of Brampton, to help fund the legal opposition to Quebec’s religious symbols ban shows that Canadians are united against the law.

Adopted in June 2019, Bill 21 prohibits the wearing of religious symbols such as hijabs, kippas and turbans by teachers and other government employees deemed to be in positions of authority.

Debate over the law was revived this month with news that a teacher in Chelsea, Que., had been reassigned because of her hijab.

The lawsuit is led by the NCCM, the World Sikh Organization of Canada and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

“We have witnessed concrete examples of what this bill does, concrete examples of people being removed from their dream jobs, from pursuing their passions, people who are qualified, people who are loved,” said Lina El Bakir, the Quebec advocacy officer at the NCCM.

“We’ve been fighting since the moment it passed. It has come in the way of many people wearing the hijab, the kippa, or the turban. And the statement of big cities like Brampton to come together to fund the legal battle against Bill 21 really says loudly and clearly that we will fight together to make sure that minorities’ rights, human rights and civil liberties are being respected in Canada.

“It is terrifying for Canadians to think that they cross the border and they cannot pursue their dreams, or their friends, their families cannot be who they want to be.”

Brampton city council on Wednesday became the first to vote to contribute $100,000 to the three groups challenging the Quebec law.

Toronto city council unanimously passed a motion Thursday to provide another $100,000. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek also said she wanted to put money toward the legal fight, and Winnipeg hinted at doing the same.

“If we allow that type of religious freedom to be cancelled in Quebec we set a dangerous precedent,” said Brown. “And I believe Canada’s big cities, Canada’s diverse big cities should stand up for our charter, stand up for religious freedoms.”

RELATED:

• ‘It is very shocking’: Parents react after Quebec teacher removed from position for wearing a hijab
• ‘It’s a law that is reasonable’: Legault on Bill 21 debate after teacher re-assigned

In an open letter sent to 100 Canadian mayors, Brown requested other municipalities follow Brampton’s lead, calling the legislation “un-Canadian.”

Some activists in Quebec have found politicians within the province too silent on the issue.

“The mayor of Montreal Valerie Plante told people not to fight against this bill,” said Idil Issa, the founder of Muslim Women Organizing Against Islamophobia and Racism. “She didn’t like the fact that other mayors were fighting it. She felt ‘uncomfortable’ and this is a woman that has worked in the non-profit sector who surrounds herself with a lot of left-leaning progressive causes – and yet at the same time there is that hesitance.

“There is that reticence when it comes to the civil rights of religious minorities.”

For Canadians wanting to help, advocates say there are many ways to contribute.

“Just reinforce the people being affected by this, so looking at how you help fund or support organizations who are providing training to young Muslim women or young Jewish women or people affected by this bill,” said Issa.

“It’s going to be a difficult and nuanced fight but I think we need to look to the non-profit sector, to activists, because unfortunately politicians like (Quebec Premier Francois) Legault, like Valerie Plante are not setting a good example.”