The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government has introduced what’s known as “an Act respecting the laïcité of the State.” This is the latest attempt by a Québec government to enact secularism legislation. The bill will prohibit civil servants in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols at work.

Some Canadians outside of Québec have reacted with disbelief at the tabling of a bill in the provincial legislature by the Coalition Avenir Québec government to ensure the religious neutrality of the state.

Québec’s provincial government recently tabled Bill 21 on state secularism. The bill prohibits the wearing of religious symbols for public employees in positions of authority such as judges, police officers and teachers. The actual list is much longer.