On François Legault’s last days as Premier of Quebec, the National Assembly voted on another round of oppressive laws targeting religious minorities. Once again, the notwithstanding clause was invoked and constitutional freedoms suspended.
It is now illegal to pray in parks and streets. Students will not be able to pray in designated rooms in colleges and universities. Rebel News and right-wing commentators had demonized quick street prayers during pro-Palestine protests. These protests often last 4–5 hours, and some people take about 60 seconds to pray halfway through.
Daycare workers who wear the hijab will be fired despite the shortage of workers and long wait lists that keep parents, mostly women, from returning to the workforce. Women who wear the niqab will be denied education in colleges and universities.
“THe fight for the rights of religious minorities continues, and we will be at the frontline to oppose right-wing nationalism”, says alex Tyrrell, Leader of the green party of quebec
This is not the final step, but just one more law targeting rights and freedoms. They already fired elementary and high school teachers who wear the hijab in the same year they declared a teacher shortage and hired teachers without teaching degrees. It’s anyone’s guess who will be targeted next, as the far-right PQ is up in the polls and promising mass deportations.
The Green Party of Quebec stands firmly in opposition to this and other laws that suspend fundamental rights and freedoms as outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. We hope that the current Supreme Court case will bring a limit to the use of the notwithstanding clause.
The struggle for minority rights continues, and we will be on the front lines opposing right-wing nationalism in all its forms.
