The Canadian province of Quebec plans to impose restrictions on public prayer and limit the exclusive offering of religion-based menus, like kosher and halal meals, in public institutions as part of its latest effort to strengthen state secularism.

The secularism 2.0 changes are part of a new bill introduced by the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec on Thursday, which expands a 2019 religious symbols law that has fueled fierce debate throughout the country.

The original law prevents judges, police officers, teachers, and public servants from wearing symbols such as the kippah, turban, or hijab while at work.

Canada's Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge of that law early next year.

Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for secularism, said in French at a news conference on Thursday that the bill was part of an approach that respected individual as well as collective rights.

The measures proposed in Bill 9 would:

  • extend the ban on wearing religious symbols to staff in subsidised daycares
  • bar collective religious practices like prayer in public spaces, such as parks, without prior authorisation from municipalities
  • prevent students and staff from wearing face coverings in daycare all the way through to post-secondary education

Roberge said the limits on public prayer were in reaction to recent protests in the province, where there has been debate over groups praying at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Opposition parties, like the Parti Québecois, have criticized the measures, arguing they could exacerbate division within the community and undermine social cohesion. The National Council of Canadian Muslims accused the CAQ of doubling down on identity politics amidst growing tension regarding public expressions of faith in Quebec.

The debate over secularism in Quebec has intensified since the passage of Bill 21, which has seen various legal challenges and ongoing public discourse about the implications of such laws on freedom of expression and religious practices.

Since Bill 21's implementation, the issue of secularism continues to simmer, particularly following incidents involving teachers accused of fostering an intolerant environment, leading to suspensions and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of secularism in educational institutions.