Canada’s Quebec province on Thursday unveiled controversial draft legislation that would ban a significant section of public servants from wearing religious symbols such as a crucifix, yarmulke or hijab. The measure which applies to police, teachers and others in positions of authority is expected to become law by June with Premier Francois Legault’s government holding a majority of seats in the Quebec legislature. But it was swiftly panned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who said:"For me, it’s unthinkable (that) a free society would legitimize discrimination against anyone based on religion." Montreal mayor Valerie Plante voiced "serious concern about the message that this bill sends to minorities about their fundamental rights." The important thing, she said, was that the process of making laws was secular, not that people divested themselves of religious attire and symbols. Teachers unions said they would not enforce the law, while pundits and the government’s own lawyers, according to reports, anticipate a court challenge for contravening Canadians’ Charter right to personal religious freedom. The Quebec government, however, has already made it clear that it would invoke a rarely-used constitutional clause to quash any rights challenges. "Some people will find that we are going too far, others […]
