Rotrand pulls motion on religious garb
Councillor Marvin Rotrand withdrew his motion affirming Montreal city councillors’ right to wear religious symbols on Tuesday after both leaders in council said their parties would not support it.
In an emotional and eloquent speech, opposition leader Lionel Perez, who wears a kippah (Jewish skullcap), spoke of the importance of freedom of religion as a fundamental value, but said Rotrand’s motion simply muddied the waters in an already divisive climate on religious garb. Since there is no proposal to prevent elected officials from wearing religious signs, the motion “would just throw oil on the fire,” Perez said.
“It is a social issue that is too important to use to get headlines, to have coverage simply because it is possible to do so,” he said.
Premier François Legault has said his Coalition Avenir Québec government plans to forbid some authority figures — including judges, prosecutors, police officers, prison guards and teachers — from wearing religious garb like the hijab (Muslim head scarf ) or kippah. However, he will not take down the Catholic crucifix over the Speaker’s chair in the National Assembly.
Perez said it sends the wrong message to be talking about the rights of councillors, whose jobs are not threatened, when some city employees could face a real risk of losing their jobs if the government makes good on its plan.
Mayor Valérie Plante also affirmed her belief in an inclusive society, where people from all cultures and religions can flourish, but said Rotrand’s motion was “not pertinent.”