Court of Appeal upholds controversial Quebec secularism law

Pro-Bill 21 lawyer Guillaume Rousseau, right, comments on the Quebec Court of Appeal ruling in support of Bill 21, Quebec's religious symbols law, in Montreal, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The Quebec Court of Appeal has upheld the province's controversial secularism law in a ruling on challenges to the law's constitutionality released Thursday afternoon.

His government had said the exception created an unfair distinction between francophone and anglophone schools. The secularism law, which has been in place since June 2019, prevents a number of civil servants — including teachers and police officers — from wearing religious symbols while on the job. Several groups have challenged the law's constitutionality. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the National Council of Canadian Muslims were among those arguing Bill 21 discriminates on the basis of religion.

The CAQ pre-emptively invoked the constitutional notwithstanding clause when drafting the bill to protect it against legal challenges.The clause gives provinces the power to override portions the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for renewable periods of five years. English Montreal School Board Chair Joe Ortona holds up a copy of the ruling as he comments on the Quebec Court of Appeal ruling in favour of Bill 21, Quebec's religious symbols law, in Montreal, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Joe Ortona, chair of the English Montreal School Board, which first challenged Bill 21 in Superior Court, said he was disappointed by the decision, especially for all the teachers who would be affected by the law from now on.

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