Trendpills
The Quebec government has announced its intention to introduce legislation this fall aimed at prohibiting prayer in public spaces. Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge confirmed that the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government will table a bill to outlaw the practice, which he described as a response to the “proliferation of street prayer,” calling it a “serious and sensitive issue.” This move is the latest step in a broader provincial effort to strengthen secularism, or laïcité.
The announcement follows earlier comments from Premier François Legault, who stated last December that he did not want to see people praying in public parks or on streets. The proposed legislation comes amid simmering tensions in the province over religious expression, particularly in Montreal, where prayers have been part of some pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The CAQ government has consistently pursued a secularist agenda, which recently included a law requiring immigrants to embrace the province's common culture.
Minister Roberge stated that the decision was influenced by a new report from an advisory committee on secularism, underscoring the government's position that public spaces should remain neutral. This position is a continuation of the principles underlying controversial past legislation, such as Bill 21, which bans certain public servants from wearing religious symbols at work. The government views the proposed ban as a necessary step to maintain religious neutrality in the public sphere.
The plan has immediately drawn condemnation from civil liberties advocates and raised significant legal questions. Experts are questioning whether such a law would withstand a court challenge, as it directly engages freedom of religion, a right protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This has led to speculation that the government might invoke the notwithstanding clause, a constitutional provision that allows provincial or federal laws to temporarily override certain Charter rights. The potential for a constitutional showdown is growing as critics voice strong opposition to the bill, arguing it infringes on fundamental freedoms.
