The Challenges of a Secular Quebec: Bill 21 in Perspective

Bill 21, passed by the Quebec National Assembly in 2019, prohibits certain state employees in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols when providing public services. This move was criticized as running counter to Canadian multiculturalism and human rights. The book "The Challenges of a Secular Quebec" explores why many Quebecers consider the law legitimate and calls for a legal interpretation that is sensitive to the province's unique history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2023
Publisher: University of British Columbia Press

The Quebec National Assembly passed Bill 21 in 2019, which prohibits certain state employees in positions of authority, including teachers, prison guards, police officers, and justices of the peace, from wearing religious symbols when providing public services. This bill has been widely criticized by political commentators as running counter to Canadian multiculturalism and human rights. The government's decision to adopt this form of state secularism has been a subject of debate and discussion in Quebec.

One reason for the government's adoption of state secularism is to promote a secular state that is neutral and inclusive of all religions. The Quebec government believes that religious symbols can create divisions and tensions within society and that public services should be provided without any religious bias or discrimination.

Another reason for the government's adoption of state secularism is to protect the rights of religious minorities who may feel marginalized or oppressed by the presence of religious symbols in public spaces. The Quebec government believes that everyone should have the right to practice their religion without fear of discrimination or prejudice.

Despite the criticism of Bill 21, the government has garnered public support for the law. Many Quebecers believe that the law is necessary to promote a secular state and to protect the rights of religious minorities. Some argue that the law is necessary to prevent the integration of religious symbols into public services, which could undermine the separation of church and state.

Contributors to The Challenges of a Secular Quebec analyze the statute from different angles to provide a nuanced, respectful discussion of its intentions and principles. They argue that the law is consistent with Canadian multiculturalism and human rights laws and that it does not violate the freedom of religion or expression. They also argue that the law is necessary to protect the rights of religious minorities and to ensure that public services are provided without any religious bias or discrimination.

Given the province's unique history in North America, the merits of the initiative to separate church and state must be considered within the Quebec context. The Challenges of a Secular Quebec calls for a legal interpretation of Bill 21 that is sensitive to this difference. The contributors to the book argue that the law should be interpreted in a way that respects the rights of religious minorities and promotes a secular state that is neutral and inclusive of all religions.

In conclusion, the Quebec National Assembly's passage of Bill 21 has sparked a debate about state secularism and the role of religion in public life. While the bill has been criticized by some as running counter to Canadian multiculturalism and human rights, it has garnered public support for its goals of promoting a secular state and protecting the rights of religious minorities. The Challenges of a Secular Quebec provides a nuanced, respectful discussion of the law and its implications for Quebec and beyond.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780774868426