Quebec to ban religious symbols in CPEs and subsidized daycares

Quebec will legislate a ban on the wearing of religious symbols in childcare centers, known as CPEs in the province, and subsidized daycares.

Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge says there is a “broad consensus” that Quebecers want secularism to be strengthened. 

The announcement follows a recommendation to extend the ban to daycares made this summer by a committee tasked with advising the province on how to enhance secularism. 

Quebec has already banned public sector workers in positions of authority, like teachers and judges, from wearing religious symbols on the job – with what’s commonly know as Bill 21.

Roberge added, however, that a grandfather clause will be included for people already employed by childcare services who wear religious symbols.

The government has already tabled legislation to extend the religious symbols ban to all public school staff, and Roberge has also promised to ban prayer in public places. 

The minister was less clear regarding a proposal by CAQ activists adopted at the congress, namely to prohibit face coverings at all times in public spaces. 

Could this prohibition be formalized in a law?

“The reflection is continuing,” replied the minister, who had voted in favor of the proposal at the CAQ convention last month in Gatineau. 

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews