The Canadian province of Quebec is planning to ban all public prayer as part of an aggressive push toward secularization.
Quebec’s secularism minister, Jean-François Roberge, said the laws were designed to accelerate his push toward secularization.
The Guardian reports:
Quebec says it will intensify its crackdown on public displays of religion in a sweeping new law that critics say pushes Canadian provinces into private spaces and disproportionately affects Muslims.
Bill 9, introduced by the governing Coalition Avenir Québec on Thursday, bans prayer in public institutions, including in colleges and universities.
It also bans communal prayer on public roads and in parks, with the threat of fines of C$1,125 for groups in contravention of the prohibition. Short public events with prior approval are exempt.
CAQ has made secularism a key legislative priority, passing the controversial Bill 21 – which bans some public sector employees from wearing religious symbol – in 2019.
It plans to extend that prohibition to anyone working in daycares, colleges, universities and private schools. Full face coverings would be banned for anyone in those institutions, including students.
Quebec’s secularism minister, Jean-François Roberge, said the laws were designed to accelerate his push toward secularization.
“It’s shocking to see people blocking traffic, taking possession of the public space without a permit, without warning, and then turning our streets, our parks, our public squares into places of worship,” he explained.
He added that schools are “are not temples or churches or those kinds of places.”
Hellbound and Down 