Breaking down party positions on religious symbols
Legault claims PQ, QS support CAQ’s views, but closer look tells more nuanced story
Premier-designate François Legault says his position on barring some government workers from wearing religious symbols is supported by two other Quebec parties. And he cites the BouchardTaylor Commission as evidence of a consensus in Quebec.
“I had a clear mandate, and it’s the consensus of Quebecers and Bouchard-Taylor,” Legault told an interviewer soon after his Oct. 1 election victory.
“We have three parties out of four at the National Assembly that agree with this ban,” the Coalition Avenir Québec leader added at the Francophonie summit in Armenia this week, referring to the Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire and leaving out the outgoing Liberals.
But a closer look at party positions and Bouchard-Taylor recommendations tells a more nuanced story about how state neutrality should be achieved.
Legault’s proposal would target judges, Crown prosecutors, police officers, prison guards and teachers wearing symbols such as the Muslim hijab, Jewish kippah and Sikh turban.
No other Quebec party says it would go as far as the CAQ position. The PQ says current teachers should be exempt and QS insists the prohibition should not cover teachers at all.
In its 2008 findings, the Bouchard-Taylor Commission on cultural and religious accommodation also said teachers should in no way be covered by a ban on religious garb.
There are also differences on the question of whether or not the crucifix should be kept above the speaker’s chair in the National Assembly.
The representation of Jesus Christ on a cross should remain because it’s a historical rather than religious symbol, according to Legault, who will be sworn in as premier on Oct. 18.
That view clashes with the positions of Québec solidaire and the Bouchard-Taylor report. Both say it should be removed from the legislative chamber where the province’s laws are enacted.
Here is a breakdown of the positions.
POSITION ON GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WEARING RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS
Bouchard-Taylor: Should be banned for employees in a “limited range of positions” that “strikingly exemplify state neutrality and whose incumbents exercise a power of coercion.”
CAQ: Should be prohibited for government employees “in positions of coercive authority.” The party says if necessary it would be ready to use the notwithstanding clause to circumvent the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Liberals: In October 2017, the Liberal government passed Bill 62, which stipulated that public services must be delivered and received with the face visible, targeting women who for example wear
religious garments such as the niqab and burka. A Quebec Superior Court judge suspended the ban after Muslims and civil-rights advocates challenged the law in court.
PQ: In the 2018 election, the PQ said it supported a ban on religious symbols for state employees in positions of authority.
QS: Supports the Bouchard-Taylor recommendation.
WHO WOULD THE MEASURES APPLY TO?
Bouchard-Taylor: “Judges, Crown prosecutors, police officers, prison guards and the president and vicepresident of the National Assembly.” However, “teachers, public servants, health professionals and all other government employees (should) be authorized” to wear religious symbols. The report noted that “the wearing in schools or hospitals of religious signs is a marginal phenomenon that in no way affects the establishments’ autonomy.”
CAQ: Judges, Crown prosecutors, police officers, prison guards, as well as primary and secondary school teachers.
Liberals: Bill 62 did not touch on the issue of other types of religious symbols.
PQ: Judges, Crown prosecutors, police officers, as well as daycare educators, elementary and high school teachers.
QS: See Bouchard-Taylor.
Would measures apply to current employees? Bouchard-Taylor:
CAQ:
Yes.
Since winning the election, the party’s position has wavered. A party spokesperson initially said current employees who wear the symbols will be told to remove them. If they refuse, they will be offered behind-the-scenes jobs. If they reject both options, they will have to leave their jobs, the spokesperson said. But this week, Legault said “I’m open for this kind of discussion about grandfathering rights.”
Liberals: Current employees would have to show their faces when providing services.
PQ: For workers in daycares and schools, the religious-symbol ban would only target new hires. Current employees would not be affected.
QS: Yes.
SHOULD THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S CRUCIFIX STAY OR GO?
Bouchard-Taylor: “In the name of both the separation of the state and churches and state neutrality, we are of the opinion that the crucifix should be removed from the wall of the National Assembly, which is the very embodiment of the constitutional state.” It said “a reasonable alternative would be to display it in a room devoted to the history of Parliament.”
CAQ: Keep it where it is.
Liberals: Keep it where it is. PQ: In 2017, the PQ said it was open to discussing its removal, but said a PQ government would only do so if there was a consensus.
QS: Remove it.