Secularism and systemic racism as soon as parliament is back in session

AFP
Bill 62, which seeks to compel public servants and citizens to interact face to face, be discussed again by the parliamentary commission as early as 15 August.

Patrick Bellerose

Wednesday, 2 August 2017 00:00

UPDATE
Wednesday, 2 August 2017 00:00

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After having been put aside since last January, the draft law on the religious neutrality of the State will be at the heart of the parliament returns to Quebec.

Bill 62, which seeks to compel public servants and citizens to interact face to face – in addition to oversee the reasonable accommodation, will be again debated in a parliamentary commission as of 15 August.

First scheduled for last January, a detailed study of the bill had been cancelled in the wake of the attack against the mosque of Quebec.

The government Couillard has preferred to devote himself to the passage of bill 98, which aims to facilitate the integration of immigrants into the labour market.

With the revival of the study of bill 62, the debate on the religious neutrality risk to ignite again the exchanges between parliamentarians. The PQ and the CAQ complain that the government Couillard does not go far enough in banning the wearing of religious symbols by public servants.

The debate will also be powered by the Consultation on racism, and systemic discrimination, which will begin its hearings across the province of Quebec in September, prior to the holding of a large forum in the month of November.

The PQ denounced the maneuver as a “trial” that the government Couillard is trying to impose on Quebec.

The pitbulls will be waiting

Despite promises to act quickly, a year ago, the government Couillard does not always put the study of the draft law on dangerous dogs in the schedule.

The minister responsible for the file, Martin Coiteux, will be rather busy advancing another important piece of legislation to a parliamentary committee, bill 121, which seeks to grant more powers to Montreal.

At the beginning of September, Martin Coiteux will also participate in the special consultations on the short bill that will require police officers and special constables to wear their uniform in the performance of their duties.

The fugues under the magnifying glass

In addition, the parliamentarians will consider also, from the 14 August on the draft law 99 of the minister responsible for youth Protection, Lucie Charlebois, who is intended in particular to prevent young runaways find themselves in the hands of pimps.

The Journal reported in late July that Quebec is experiencing a record number of fugues since the beginning of the year. There are 71 since January of 2017, compared to 67 for the whole of last year.

OVER TIME

August 2008 : submission of the report of the Bouchard-Taylor commission, which proposes to ban religious symbols for State employees in a position of authority.

September 2013 : The government Marois goes much further than the proposal Bouchard-Taylor with its values charter, which would ban all religious signs ostentatious for employees of the State.

June 2015 : Quebec submits the bill 62 and bill 59, which is intended to combat hate speech. The two legislative documents that are presented as complementary.

May 2016 : Stéphanie Vallée removes the provisions relating to hate speech of bill 59, keeping only the pane on forced marriages.