PQ’s Drainville stands his ground
As growing number of universities voice opposition to values charter, minister dismisses their concerns
QUEBEC — Democratic Institutions Minister Bernard Drainville is standing his ground on the values charter in the face of a growing movement against it in the province’s university network.
It will apply to universities like elsewhere, he said, because they are public institutions.
“It’s a question of coherence,” Drainville told reporters Wednesday. “Universities are public institutions and the secularism we propose applies to all public institutions.
“So it must apply to universities. I understand they have reservations — to say the least. So I invite them to come and submit them to the parliamentary commission.”
Drainville made the remarks as Quebec’s universities increasingly question the need for the charter. The Université du Québec à Montréal was the latest to wade in Tuesday.
“The thing is inapplicable and will create inequities,” UQÀM rector Robert Proulx told Le Devoir.
Like some other institutions, UQÀM will probably ask to opt out.
On his way out of a Parti Québécois caucus meeting, Drainville was again questioned — this time about the level of freedom he sees in universities.
“From the moment we say that secularism should apply to all public institutions, universities are public institutions,” Drainville said.
“So in the name of coherence, the charter has to apply to universities.
“We say, from the moment you are in a public service, you must represent the neutrality of the state and so we think professors must not, in their choice of clothing, proselytize, so that’s why we think religious neutrality should apply to university professors.
“I invite the universities to come and be heard at the parliamentary commission. We will start the consultation (process) Jan. 14.
“I invite them to come and express their point of view.”
Drainville also dismissed news reports that McGill University is having trouble recruiting students in the wake of the charter and that employees are looking for new work.
“Scare campaigns have been tried in the past,” Drainville said.
“You know the same thing was said about Bill 101 40 years ago, and did it hurt McGill? Did Bill 101 hurt McGill? Did Bill 101 undermine the world-class status of McGill University? I don’t think so.
“Bill 101 was adopted. There was all kind of apocalyptic discourse around Bill 101 and it didn’t stop McGill from staying the world-class university that it’s been.”
He said McGill should advance its views without “resorting” to fear campaigns.
“Fear campaigns do not work anymore. I think we should have a more positive discourse around the charter.”
Drainville also dismissed this week’s criticism of the charter by former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe. Duceppe joins other prominent Quebec separatists, including Lucien Bouchard and Bernard Landry, who have been critical of the proposed charter.
Bill 60 is before the legislature but has not been adopted yet.