Ban on chador not a priority, Legault says
But premier stresses his party isn’t changing its position against it
QUEBEC Barring civil servants from wearing the chador is not a priority for the new Coalition Avenir Québec government, says Premier François Legault.
Conceding he is unaware of anyone working for the government who wears such clothing, Legault threw cold water on a statement made only hours earlier by his minister for immigration, diversity and inclusion, Simon-Jolin Barrette, to the effect that such a ban is in the works.
“I’m not changing our position but I’m not telling you it’s in our priorities,” Legault told reporters in English emerging from a meeting of cabinet.
“There was an article today regarding this subject but for now it’s not our priority.
“Right now we want to settle the rules regarding people that are in an authority position.”
Legault stressed the standing CAQ position on the chador, which covers the head and upper body leaving only the face visible, is that it sends the wrong message about the need for equality between men and women.
The same goes for the burka, which covers the entire face with a mesh covering the eyes, and the niqab, which leaves only the eyes uncovered.
All three are rarely seen in Quebec but the CAQ position historically was for a law banning them, a position repeated often by the former party spokesperson on the secularism issue, Nathalie Roy, who now is minister of culture.
At one point the CAQ — in its zeal to discredit the Liberals — accused former leader Philippe Couillard of being in favour of the chador because he refused to include it as one the symbols to ban in his plans to present a bill saying public services should be delivered and received with an uncovered face.
That became Bill 62, which was adopted but is now before the courts. That law implicitly bans face coverings but it also includes a clause allowing religious accommodation.
On Wednesday, however, Legault was more vague on the issue in French describing it as “something to look at eventually in a bill.”
“We have not changed our point of view … that state personnel cannot wear symbols like the niqab or the chador, but as for which law this appears in, it will be up to the minister to look into this. It’s open, it’s open.
“There’s nothing new in this. We took this position a long time ago.”
Legault’s comments came despite a statement made earlier by Jolin-Barrette who made it clear the government does want to impose such a ban.
That would be in addition to banning authority figures such as judges, police officers and elementary and high school teachers from wearing religious symbols like the hijab and kippah.
“Our position has always been clear,” Jolin-Barrette told reporters arriving for a party caucus. “It is our intention to go in this direction and ban the chador.”
Asked if the CAQ government has legal opinions that it can actually ban such items without infringing on personal religious freedoms guaranteed in the constitution, Jolin-Barrette said the question is premature.
He noted he’s just starting on the job and does not have all the necessary information yet.
“We will draft the bill and be able to make it public in due time in the National Assembly,” he said. “It (the chador) will probably be in the same bill.”
He also would not say whether the CAQ would make use of the constitution’s notwithstanding clause to override religious rights but CAQ leader François Legault in the past has said it would if necessary.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned Legault to not use the clause.
Jolin-Barrette also could not say whether the CAQ will be able to table the legislation on symbols before the Christmas break. The National Assembly resumes sitting Nov. 27 for a period of two weeks.
“One thing is clear, the premier asked me to settle the secularism issue rapidly and that is what I intend to do,” he said. “The CAQ’s position on the chador has not changed.”
But even before Legault clarified the government’s position, the idea was not sitting well in some circles.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said she wanted to wait until seeing a written draft before commenting on the Quebec government’s proposal to bar public sector workers from wearing the chador.
“I’ve always been very clear: I want to protect Montrealers’ right to have access to services,” Plante said in Montreal. “Whatever you wear, you should be able to go to the library and take the bus.”
Plante said she did not want to further inflame a polarizing debate in which Quebecers are either portrayed as traitors to the nation or racists.
Legault’s softening arrives just as he is to meet Plante. The two have scheduled a meeting for Friday in Montreal.
Plante has faced criticism for failing to attend last week’s swearing in of the new Legault cabinet, which sees the city’s clout in the government slashed dramatically.
Having only elected two CAQ MNAs on the island, Legault named one, Chantal Rouleau, the junior minister of transport responsible for Montreal.