(Global News) Nearly five years since the Quebec government implemented its secularism law, known as Bill 21, some of the province’s community groups say the legislation continues to have an impact on minority communities.
The law bans certain public workers in positions of authority — including teachers, judges and police officers — from wearing religious symbols at work.
On Thursday, Quebec’s minister responsible for secularism, Jean-François Roberge, tabled Bill 52 — a bill that would extend the use of the notwithstanding clause for five more years, to protect the secularism law from court challenges over Charter violations.
Otherwise, the use of the notwithstanding clause would expire in June.
