The Quebec National Assembly passed Bill 21 in 2019, prohibiting certain state employees in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols while providing public services. The move was criticized for running counter to Canadian multiculturalism and human rights, but it garnered public support. The book explores why many Quebecers consider the law legitimate and analyzes it from different angles. It calls for a legal interpretation that is sensitive to the province's unique history in North America.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2024
Publisher: University of British Columbia Press

The Challenges of a Secular Quebec

In 2019, the Quebec National Assembly passed Bill 21, a controversial law that prohibits certain state employees in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols when providing public services. The law has been denounced by many political commentators as running counter to Canadian multiculturalism and human rights. However, the law garnered public support, and it remains in effect today. In this article, we will explore why the government adopted this form of state secularism and why it garnered public support. We will also analyze the law from different angles to provide a nuanced, respectful discussion of its intentions and principles.