Quebec government to introduce bill to expand despite article on secularism law – Montreal

On Thursday, the Quebec government will introduce a bill that shields the province's secularism law — known as Bill 21 — from potential Charter challenges.

François Legault's coalition Avenir Quebec government plans to extend for another five years the use of a clause in the Constitution that protects against legal challenges over violations of fundamental freedoms.

Bill 21 was passed in June 2019 and bans public servants, including teachers, police officers and judges, from wearing religious symbols at work.

Despite the application of this clause, the law is being challenged in the courts on several fronts.

Legault's majority government, which has described the law as reasonable, supports extending the clause despite support from the Parti Quebecois and the Quebecois, while the official opposition Liberals oppose it.

In the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, however, the clause will be valid for five years, after which the government will have to renew it.

1:51 a.mWhat is the regardless clause and how does it affect your rights?

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