Couillard stands firm on religious neutrality law
Premier says he’s open to discussions, but won’t compromise on principles
The law on the religious neutrality of the state will apply in Montreal and in all municipalities of Quebec, even if it displeases Mayor Denis Coderre.
Premier Philippe Couillard made the statement Friday at a news conference in Montreal after speaking at a conference on sexual diversity and gender plurality in the Francophonie.
Earlier this week, the mayor of Montreal argued it was not up to the Quebec government to determine how city employees could or could not dress. “We don’t need a tutor to tell us how to hire our employees,” Coderre said.
He mused out loud whether a woman wearing a niqab could legally board a bus under the rules proposed in this bill that requires people receive public services with uncovered faces. “It’s not a government that will tell us how to clothe our employees, how to deliver our services.”
Asked about it on Friday, after he had spoken to representatives of the LGBT community, Couillard made a categorical statement: the future law “will apply throughout Quebec. The concept of religious neutrality applies to all of Quebec’s territory. And it’s the prerogative of the Quebec government to do that.”
Couillard said he’s nevertheless open to discussions, but not to the point of compromising on principles. “We offered and still offer to municipalities to open with us a forum for discussion over the application of the rules. But on the principles, it’s clear that this must apply throughout Quebec. I want to be very, very, very clear on that.”
The premier rejected the argument that this does not concern the provincial government. “It concerns me, it’s my job, in fact,” Couillard said. “It’s my duty to legislate from Quebec City on our coexistence and on this question of religious neutrality. We can’t accept that the largest city, Quebec’s metropolis, not form part of the same landscape.
“We’re only talking about the clear and simple principle of uncovered faces to benefit from and receive public services, for reasons of communication, identity and security. We should easily be able — in my opinion, it’s far from being as complicated as people think — to determine the criteria and rules to apply the law.”
Later Friday, Coderre replied to Couillard with a concrete example: If a woman wearing a niqab, with two children, wants to take a bus in winter when it’s -25 C, what should the driver do? Prevent her from boarding because her face is hidden? “I’ve become the burka police or niqab police and I’m going to decide who gets on the bus?” he asked.
The mayor noted that Quebec election law already allows people to vote by mail without ever uncovering their face.
“I’m just asking for coherence,” Coderre said. “My role is also to protect the social peace.”