(Canadian Press) Canada’s special envoy on combating antisemitism has sharply criticized as “discriminatory” Quebec’s law banning teachers and some other public-sector employees from wearing religious symbols at work.
Prof. Irwin Cotler, who was appointed by the prime minister to fight antisemitism, has condemned Quebec’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — saying it authorizes state interference in religion.
Church and state have traditionally been separate in Canada, ensuring that the government is neutral toward religions and cannot dictate if and how people practice. Supporters of Bill 21 argue that the law ensures the separation of the two, but Cotler disagrees.
“It does not so much separate religion and state as it authorizes state interference with religion,” he told the Canadian Press.
