Quebec to introduce law prohibiting public prayer in Canada

Image: Jihad Watch

The Quebec government is preparing to introduce new legislation aimed at prohibiting public prayer as part of its broader push to reinforce secularism in the province.

Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge, in a statement released on Thursday, described the growing phenomenon of street prayers as “a serious and sensitive issue” that the government cannot ignore. He emphasized that Premier François Legault has tasked him with the responsibility of safeguarding Quebec’s secular identity and that he intends to carry out this mandate with determination.

“In the coming months, we will table a bill to reinforce the principle of secularism in Quebec, with a particular focus on banning street prayers,” Roberge stated.

This announcement is the latest in a series of moves by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government to entrench secularism in public life. Over recent months, the government has advanced measures that include a law requiring immigrants to align with the province’s “common culture” and proposed an expansion of the existing ban on religious symbols in the workplace to cover school support staff.

However, Roberge did not provide specifics about how the prohibition on public prayer would be enforced or what legal mechanisms would be used. Premier Legault has previously indicated that his government is prepared to invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms if necessary to ensure the legislation holds against potential constitutional challenges.

With this forthcoming bill, the Quebec government continues to walk a delicate line between defending secular principles and managing the sensitivities of religious freedom, a debate that has long been central to the province’s identity politics.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)