Bill 62: Trudeau opens the door to a legal challenge

Archival Photo, QMI Agency

Maxime Huard

Friday, 20 October 2017 12:22

UPDATE
Friday, 20 October 2017 12:22

Look at this article

Ottawa “will take up its responsibilities” in relation to the quebec law on religious neutrality, announced by the prime minister Justin Trudeau on Friday.

“I know that people expect me to defend the Charter of rights. The government will carefully consider what is proposed and it is going to take its responsibilities,” said Mr. Trudeau, after a visit to the factory in Alma.

Crossing in the riding of Lac-Saint-Jean, in view of the by-election on Monday, he declined to clarify whether Ottawa’s intention to challenge the bill 62 or if he pandered openly to the people to have recourse to the courts. According to the law adopted Wednesday, anyone who gives or receives a public service in Quebec will have to do it face to face.

It is a change of tone for the canadian prime minister. Justin Trudeau had already made it known that he was opposed to any form of restriction of dress, but that the federal interposerait not against a quebec law.

A part of the political class of canada rose up against the project of act of the national Assembly since its adoption.

In Ontario, provincial parties have unanimously condemned the quebec act. “Religious freedom is part of our identity. Laws such as the bill 62 of the Quebec divide us, and to me that is unacceptable,” argued the premier of ontario Kathleen Wynne.

The leader of the progressive conservative Party, Patrick Brown, hopes that Ontario would go further. “Neutrality is not enough, he wrote on Twitter on Friday morning. If the federal government does not want to lead Canada, and that this racist legislation passes, Ontario needs to support a challenge under the Charter.”

On Wednesday, the New democratic Party has strongly condemned the legislation. “I think that it is a law that violates the rights of Man. I am completely opposed”, ruled the leader, Jagmeet Singh.

The conservative Party of Canada was left in the care of Quebec to judge the bill, while defending the right to freedom of religion in the country.