Quebec to table new secularism bill today banning prayer rooms in universities, CEGEPs
CBC
The Quebec government is expected to table a new bill today further expanding its secularism rules.
Radio-Canada reporting indicates that the law is expected to include a ban on prayer rooms in universities and CEGEPs, along with an expansion on a face-covering ban to educators in the province’s public and subsidized daycares.
It is also expected to include a ban on religious symbols used in communications by public institutions and a ban on public institutions exclusively offering meals based on a religious tradition.
The bill is the latest move by the Legault government, currently suffering in opinion polls, to expand its secularism rules.
Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for secularism in Quebec, posted a short video to X earlier this week showing a draft of the new bill with the words “c’est comme ça qu’on vit au Québec” written on it. The phrase translates to "this is how we live in Quebec."
In October, the government adopted a new law banning religious symbols worn by any school employee who interacts with a student.
That law was itself an expansion of a 2019 law, known as Bill 21, that banned religious symbols worn by public employees deemed to be in positions of authority, including teachers, judges and police officers.
Last year, a government investigation of a Montreal elementary school found that a group of teachers had imposed autocratic rule at the school. Some of the actions outlined in that report sparked concerns that teachers at the school were imposing their religious views on students.
The federal government is stoking Quebec separatism by walking back its climate commitments — including in its recent deal with Alberta — Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says.
Four more Alberta MLAs are facing recall petitions organized by their constituents, including the first NDP representative to be caught in the province's ongoing wave of recall efforts.
Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born renegade architect behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings, has died at 96.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.