17 schools subjected to audits for possible secularism breaches in Quebec

Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced that 17 schools will be audited where possible secularism breaches have been reported in Quebec.

This comes after 11 teachers were suspended at Bedford Elementary School in October for creating an intimidating climate and allegedly humiliating students and imposing their religious views.

These mandates will be carried with Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge.

“The situation at Bedford School has raised questions and concerns among the population, and I understand that perfectly,” said Drainville. “These audit mandates are necessary to protect our students. Schools exist for them. Their safety and well-being must be our top priorities. We cannot allow people who behave in an unacceptable manner or are motivated by ideology or personal beliefs to interfere in our schools.”

Three mandates will be carried out in Quebec City, one in the Laurentians, one in Gatineau and two in Saguenay.

Thee schools subject to an audit mandate:

• École des Saints-Anges (Saint-Lambert)
• École Henri Beaulieu (Saint-Laurent; Montreal)
• École Saint-Pascal-Baylon (Montreal)
• École Bienville (Montreal)
• École La Voie (Montreal)
• École Saint-Justin (Montreal)
• École la Dauversière-Évangéline (Montreal)
• École Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption (Montreal)
• École Mont-de-La Salle (Laval)
• École Leblanc (Laval)
• École Jean-Jacques-Rousseau (Boisbriand)
• École Sainte-Odile (Quebec City)
• Cardinal Roy School (Quebec City)
• École d’éducation internationale Filteau (Quebec City)
• École polyvalente de l’Érablière (Gatineau)
• École Saint-Isidore (Chicoutimi; Saguenay)
• École Saint-Denis (Chicoutimi; Saguenay)

Although the breaches aren’t similar to those at Bedford, Quebec said the schools breached one of the four principles of the Law on State Secularism (separation of State and religions, religious neutrality of the State, equality of citizens, freedom of conscience and religion).

Also, the two ministers recently sent a letter to all school service centres in Quebec to remind them of their obligations about secularism and respect for religious neutrality.

“The secularism of our schools and the education provided therein is non-negotiable,” said Roberge. “The State Secularism Act aims to preserve the separation between the State and religions by providing a framework to ensure that religion does not enter our public institutions. It must be applied and respected throughout the school network. These audits will shed light on the situation and put in place appropriate measures to correct the situation.”