The Supreme Court will soon decide if it will hear an appeal on Quebec’s Bill 21, a law limiting religious symbols for public workers.
Montreal: The Supreme Court of Canada is set to announce its decision on whether to hear the appeal regarding Quebec’s Bill 21. This law has stirred quite a bit of debate since it was passed back in 2019.
So, what’s the deal with Bill 21? It basically says that certain public workers, like judges and teachers, can’t wear religious symbols while on the job. The law was designed to promote secularism, but it’s faced a lot of pushback.
Even though the law was passed, it’s been challenged in court multiple times. The Quebec Superior Court and the Court of Appeal have weighed in, but the challengers haven’t had much luck so far.
Interestingly, the courts did say that the ban doesn’t apply to members of the National Assembly. That’s a small win for those opposing the law. The English Montreal School Board has also been vocal about its concerns, but they’re keeping quiet until the Supreme Court makes its call.
Other groups, like the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, are also in the mix, pushing for the court to take a look at this issue. It’s worth noting that one of the justices had to step back from the case due to his past involvement with the CCLA.
Meanwhile, the Quebec government is standing firm on this law, backed by various secularism advocates. It’s a hot topic, and everyone’s waiting to see what the Supreme Court decides.
