Philip Authier – Eye on Islamism

Roberge urges Quebecers to ‘wake up’ to the threat of Islamic radicalism CAQ government cites 2024 situation at Bedford elementary school as a 'flagrant' example.

October 1, 2025 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) With the opposition parties accusing the government of using inflated language, Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge says Quebecers need to “wake up” to the threat of radical Islamic groups infiltrating society. And far from backing down on comments about radicals he […]

Unions, red tape and ‘radical Islamists’: Legault lays out his battles in inaugural address With Quebec nearing an election year, the premier outlines plans for the last year of his mandate as the National Assembly resumes sitting.

September 30, 2025 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) Premier François Legault has revealed his roadmap for the year ahead. It includes financial relief for taxpayers, more secularism legislation to counter what he says is the assault on Quebec values by “radical Islamists,” and a plan to speed up […]

Drainville says core of Quebec bill reinforcing secularism will stay

April 10, 2025 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) Hearings into new legislation reinforcing secularism in schools Thursday rapidly took on the makings of an encore performance of the 2019 debate over Bill 21 on state secularism, with groups pro and con coming forward to push their views on […]

Legault accuses federal immigration minister of confusing Muslims with radical Islam

December 11, 2024 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) Premier François Legault has responded to the federal immigration minister’s accusations that he is picking on Muslims by saying he will defend Quebec values. And Legault in turn has accused Miller of confusing Muslims with radical Islam. “I will defend […]

Quebec to do secularism checks at 17 schools for potential laicity law violations The ministers responsible for laicity and education have contacted all school service centres reminding them of their Bill 21 obligations.

November 14, 2024 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) Following up on complaints sparked by allegations of incidents at the Bedford elementary school, Quebec’s Education Ministry is sending inspectors into 17 schools to verify them for possible violations of laicity rules. The schools to be inspected are in the […]

Quebec opens investigation on another religious incident in a public school 'If these events are confirmed, you can be sure decisions will be made,' says Education Minister Bernard Drainville. 'I'm not going to let this go on without a very firm and determined response.'

October 23, 2024 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) The Quebec government has opened an investigation into another incident of religion reappearing in a public elementary school, with Education Minister Bernard Drainville saying Quebec will not turn a blind eye to the fresh allegations. One day after suspending the […]

Ministry suspends licences of 11 teachers at Bedford school as Legault vows to reinforce secularism rules 'We have a group of teachers who tried to introduce Islamic religious concepts into a Quebec public school, putting aside science as a way of helping students,' the premier said.

October 22, 2024 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) With the Legault government saying the evidence shows Quebec’s secularism law was being flouted, 11 teachers at Montreal’s Bedford elementary school have had their teaching licences suspended by the Education Ministry pending the conclusions of an investigation. And the government […]

PQ leader calls for stricter secularism rules in wake of ‘toxic’ climate report at Bedford school Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says the education minister only referred to 'ideological divergences' in a Radio-Canada interview, without acknowledging the religious part of the equation.

October 21, 2024 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) Urging politicians to not shy away from the debate because it involves religion, Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon called Monday for stricter secularism rules in the wake of the Bedford school controversy. St-Pierre Plamondon said what happened in the […]

Majority of Canadians disapprove of Bill 21, but Quebecers are in favour: poll A Forum Research survey of 1,733 people conducted from July 26-28 concludes 59 per [cent] of Canadian voters disapprove of the law

August 6, 2019 Philip Authier

(Montreal Gazette) A new poll shows a majority of Canadians living outside Quebec do not approve of the province’s religious symbols law. But as other polls have revealed in the past, those living in Quebec say they strongly approve of Bill 21 […]