US EditionNew secularism law is looming over Way of the Cross marches on Good Friday in Quebec
The law extends bans on religious symbols to daycare workers and subsidized private schools, while also restricting public prayer and prayer spaces.
- On Thursday, the Quebec National Assembly adopted Bill 9, restricting religious symbols for daycare workers and requiring municipal permits for public street prayers.
- Premier François Legault's government introduced the legislation to reinforce the "religious neutrality of the state," building upon previous measures like Bill 21 that restricted religious symbols for public employees.
- The new law prohibits religious symbols for daycare educators, bans prayer spaces in public institutions, and requires subsidized private religious schools to end religious student selection and instruction within three years.
- Civil liberties groups, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association , condemned the law as an "ongoing attack" on rights, noting the government invoked the notwithstanding clause to shield the legislation from constitutional challenges.
- While a grandfather clause protects some employees hired before November 27, 2025, Stephen Brown of the National Council of Canadian Muslims warned the law threatens minority rights and could face legal action.
50 Articles
50 Articles
Following the passage of Bill 9 prohibiting street prayers, members of the faithful of Quebec met on Good Friday.
The Toronto Star
New secularism law is looming over Way of the Cross marches on Good Friday in Quebec
MONTREAL - Christians across Quebec are about to face a new legal landscape on Good Friday, only a day after the provincial legislature adopted a law that could crack down
Quebec Passes Secularism Law Further Restricting Public Prayer, Religious Symbols
The Quebec government has passed a law imposing new restrictions on religious symbols, public prayer, and funding for religious schools. The province’s Bill 9, titled An Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Quebec, passed 76–28 on April 2, with Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec and the Parti Québécois voting in favour of the legislation, and the Liberals and Québec solidaire voting against it. The legislation bans pray…
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