Quebec Tightens Secularism Measures, Restricts Public Prayer

Fri Dec 05 2025 14:52:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Quebec government has introduced new legislation aiming to bolster secularism by restricting public prayer and limiting religious symbols in public spaces.

In a significant move to reinforce secularism, the government of Quebec has proposed new regulations that limit public prayer and the wearing of religious symbols in public institutions. This initiative, termed 'secularism 2.0,' is part of a broader effort to enhance state secularism, following a controversial religious symbols law. The proposal has garnered criticism from opposition parties and advocacy groups, who argue it exacerbates societal divisions.

The Canadian province of Quebec plans to impose restrictions on public prayer and limit the exclusive offering of religion-based menus, like kosher and halal meals, in public institutions.

The latest efforts to strengthen state secularism, dubbed secularism 2.0, are part of a new bill introduced by the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) on Thursday, expanding on a 2019 religious symbols law that has fuelled fierce debate throughout the country.

The original law prevents judges, police officers, teachers and public servants from wearing symbols such as the kippah, turban or hijab while at work.

Canada's Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge of that law early next year.

Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for secularism, stated at a news conference that the bill was part of an approach that respected individual as well as collective rights. The proposed measures would:

extend the ban on wearing religious symbols to staff in subsidised daycares

bar collective religious practices like prayer in public spaces, such as parks, without prior authorisation from municipalities

prevent students and staff from wearing face coverings in daycare through to post-secondary education

Roberge justified the limits on public prayer as a response to recent protests, where debates surfaced regarding groups praying at pro-Palestinian demonstrations. It's shocking to see people blocking traffic, taking possession of the public space without a permit, he remarked.

The decision to strengthen these laws has already faced backlash from the opposition Parti Québecois, which accused the CAQ of creating division in a bid for electoral support ahead of next year's provincial election. The National Council of Canadian Muslims also criticized the bill, alleging that it resorts to identity politics and deepens societal rifts.

Since the passage of Bill 21 six years ago, the secularism issue has remained contentious in Quebec. Last year, 11 teachers of North African descent at a Montreal elementary school were suspended for creating a toxic environment and avoiding topics like science and sex education, a situation that Quebec Premier Francois Legault attributed to attempts at introducing Islamist beliefs.

In August, a committee released a report recommending a ban on religious symbols for daycare workers alongside phasing out public funding for private religious schools. The government recently extended secularism rules to staff interacting with students in public primary and high schools.

Critics argue that these measures disproportionately target religious minorities, especially Muslim women, and continue to ignite debates over the role of secularism in Quebec's public life.