Quebec promises new legislation to strengthen secularism in schools, may ban prayer in public spaces

Premier François Legault took advantage of the last day of the parliamentary session Friday to announce to “Islamists” that he will “fight” for Quebec values ​​and will possibly use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places, such as parks.

“Today, I want to send a very clear message to Islamists,” he began during a press conference to take stock of the session. The fundamental values ​​that we have in Quebec, such as secularism, gender equality, well we will fight (for them).

“We will never accept that people try not to respect these values. In Quebec, there is no place for religion in the public sector. (…) The message must be very clear to all the Islamists who are here,” he added.

The premier was responding to recent reports concerning acts of a religious nature that are tolerated in public schools. But he didn’t stop there. In response to a question from a journalist, he said he was annoyed to see people praying “on their knees in the street.”

“Me, seeing people on their knees in the street praying, (…) I don’t think that’s something we should see,” he said. He added that he was considering legislation to outright ban prayer in public places.

Freedom of religion is nevertheless enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. “We are looking at all possibilities, including the use of the notwithstanding clause. We don’t want to see prayers in the streets,” said Legault.

Secularism in schools: a bill will be tabled

Earlier in the day, Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced his intention to table a bill to “strengthen secularism in schools.”

He was commenting on the revelations of a La Presse report, according to which the Saint-Maxime high school in Laval would allow prayer during classes, in the presence of teachers, and in the hallways.

“Listen, this is not our Quebec,” Drainville said in a press scrum. He also deplored the fact that the students apparently “heckled” during sex education activities.

“The events brought to light at the Saint-Maxime school in Laval are completely intolerable and unacceptable. These acts of a religious nature clearly contravene secularism obligations.

“We expect the Laval school service centre to continue its checks. (…) If disciplinary action must be imposed, we expect the service centre to impose it,” the minister added.

In a press release, the service centre reiterated its commitment “to uphold the law in all its schools.” It assured that “concrete action will be taken, if necessary.”

“The allegations brought to our attention are serious and concerning,” said its director general, Yves Michel Volcy. “We will get to the bottom of things and, if corrective action needs to be taken, it will be done diligently.”

Volcy revealed that the management of the Saint-Maxime school has already had to intervene in the past to ensure that the principles of secularism are respected.

The issue of secularism in schools has sparked much debate during the parliamentary session, particularly with many school cases that have made headlines in the media.

The government had already announced last month that it would conduct audits in 17 schools in Quebec. The results of a report should arrive in January.

But the minister says he wants to take action now, “in light of the events that are multiplying.”

“Our public schools are secular. They must be places where students can learn and socialize without being subjected to any pressure related to religious beliefs. Our schools must also embody Quebec values, particularly that of gender equality,” he said.

He added that, as the premier had asked him and his colleague responsible for secularism, Jean-François Roberge, all options will be examined. He did not say exactly when the bill would be tabled.

Witnesses of acts of a religious nature in schools must denounce them, according to the Minister of Education. “What I say to the people listening to us is to denounce to the school service centres, to the ministry, to the Student Ombudsman. The code of silence is over,” he said.

The spark for this debate was a report by the Ministry of Education on the Bedford School in Montreal, published in October, which discussed “certain religious practices, such as prayers in classrooms or ablutions in toilets.”

The Quebec government is already looking into 17 schools that may have breached the province’s secularism law, as part of a controversy sparked by a government investigation alleging a toxic climate at a Montreal primary school created by a group of teachers, many of North African descent.

The report on those schools is expected in January, but Drainville says he can already confirm that the government is going to act. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2024.