Category: Pluralism & Secularism

Quebec’s latest niqab panic

 National Post

Chris Selley

Never having witnessed fascism taking hold, I wouldn’t claim to know it to see it. But whenever commentators have likened the Parti Québécois’ proposed “secularism charter” to the early drumbeats of some historically dire intolerance, my first instinct has been to scoff.

It’s certainly stupid and unfair to threaten public servants with unemployment if they don’t forsake certain religious customs, all to solve a problem that no one except the pollsters seems able to quantify. It’s certainly disturbing that any political party would stoop so low in search of support, and all the more so that the PQ seems to be finding it down there.

But whatever the polls say, Montreal seems more cosmopolitan every time I visit. Despite reports of an uptick in anti-Muslim confrontations, surely it’s a fantastically unlikely breeding ground for any sort of widespread, street-level discrimination.

Surely. But events recently took a shivery turn: A week ago, a woman spotted two daycare workers, dressed in niqabs, marshalling their young charges through the streets of Verdun, in southwest Montreal. And as one does nowadays, she snapped a photo and posted it to Facebook.

Thousands of people saw it. And not all of the commentary was polite. [Full text]

 

Jewish General Hospital opposes Bill 60 as patently discriminatory

News Release

The Jewish General Hospital (JGH) strongly opposes Bill 60, on the grounds that the plan by the current Government of Quebec to ban overt religious symbols in the clothing of healthcare employees is discriminatory and deeply insulting to public-sector workers.
Contrary to statements in the bill, the JGH believes that neutrality in the delivery of healthcare services is not compromised by religious symbols in the clothing of employees. As long as services are delivered with professional competence, courtesy and respect, no legislation should be allowed to override the freedoms of religion or expression that are guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

“This bill is flawed and contrary to Quebec’s spirit of inclusiveness and tolerance,” says Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, JGH Executive Director. “Since the bill is inherently prejudicial, there is no point in taking advantage of any clause that would grant us temporary, short-term relief. If approved, this offensive legislation would make it extremely difficult for the JGH to function as an exemplary member of Quebec’s public healthcare system.” Dr. Rosenberg’s statement is endorsed by the JGH Board of Directors.

For nearly 80 years, the JGH has prided itself on the fact that its staff—representing a wide diversity of faiths, with many employees wearing conspicuous items of clothing with religious symbols—has provided care of superior quality to Quebecers of all backgrounds. JGH patients continue to come to this hospital in ever-increasing numbers with only one thought in mind: to receive treatment and care of the highest quality. This is what matters most to residents of the hospital’s Côte-des-Neiges area, which is widely regarded as one of the most ethnically, racially, culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse neighbourhoods in Canada. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the JGH receives no complaints about the religious or cultural apparel of its staff.

A brief outlining the position of the Jewish General Hospital will be submitted to the National Assembly at a later date.

No interviews will be given on the matter.

Contact:

Glenn J. Nashen, Director
Astrid Morin, Media Relations

Public Affairs and Communications Jewish General Hospital

Tel.: 514-340-8222  ext. 4612

Email: amorin@jgh.mcgill.ca

Website: jgh.ca

Quebec’s Charter of Values: Preliminaries to the Charter

Implications of state sovereignty over education, religion and
ethics

 Sean Murphy*

 Introduction

It appears from Quebec government policy documents describing its proposed Charter of Values (the precise language of which has yet to be released) that it considers physicians and other health care workers to be state functionaries because they are engaged in the delivery of “public” health care.  As state functionaries, they will be forbidden to wear noticeable religious symbols or clothing, unless local authorities exempt them from this restriction.

However, no exemptions will be allowed to parts of the Charter that will impose secularism and restrict accommodation of religious beliefs.  These are central government policies that are to be enacted through the Charter of Values and related legislation.  This gives rise to an important question.

Will the government of Quebec – sooner or later –  use its Charter of Values to suppress freedom of conscience and religion among health care workers?

An answer to the question is suggested by a review of the Quebec government’s continuing efforts to establish state hegemony in the moral and ethical education of children. . .  Full Text

 

Quebec’s Charter of Values: government policy document

Parce que nos valeurs, on y croit | Because we believe in our values

Document d’orientation | Policy Document

Orientations gouvernmentales en matière d’encadrement des demandes d’accommodement religieux, d’affirmation des valeurs de la société Québécoise ainsi que du caractère laïque des institutions de l’état Governmental guidelines for managing applications for religious accommodation, affirmation of the values ​​of Quebec society and the secular nature of the state institutions

Full Translation

Quebec’s Charter of Values: Outline of government proposals and rationale

Parce que nos valeurs, on y croit  |   Because we believe in our values

Propositions gouvernementales |   Governmental propositions

Mot de Bernard Drainville | A word from Bernard Drainville

Au Québec, la question des accommodements religieux n’est toujours pas réglée. Dans son discours inaugural, la première ministre, Mme Pauline Marois, rappelait que les questions soulevées par la « crise » des accommodements raisonnables étaient encore en suspens. Le gouvernement a pris l’engagement ferme de les clarifier. Les propositions que nous vous soumettons respectent cet engagement. In Quebec, the issue of religious accommodation is still not resolved. In her inaugural speech, Prime Minister Pauline Marois recalled that the issues raised by the “crisis” of reasonable accommodations were outstanding. The government has a firm commitment to clarify them. The proposals we submit meet this commitment.

Full translation