The Quebec government has recently unveiled plans for legislation restricting religious symbols in the public sector. It’s called the Charter of Values. It includes things like monitoring if, and when, people will be accommodated religiously by amending the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Employees won’t be allowed to wear religious symbols like turbans, kippas or scarves – only modest things like rings or earrings.
Polls show most of the support for this charter is in rural parts of Quebec. In Montreal, where diversity is strongest, people are speaking out against it. There was a massive, organized protest on Saturday. According to the Montreal Gazette, organizers of the protest said it drew over 40,000 people.
If I were home in Montreal, I would be out there with them. Montreal is once again at odds with the province.
Montreal is a vibrant, colourful, multicultural centre. It has in many ways played the role of watchdog in the English and French language debate in Quebec. For example, the only reason the Liberal Party of Quebec wasn’t swallowed by the rest of of the province in the 2012 general election that saw Pauline Marois into power was because of Montreal and its diverse population. The liberals have 49 seats to PQ’s 54 because of Montreal.
With its diverse culture, Montreal has in the past said no to ideas such as Quebec’s secession from the rest of Canada in 1995, even though it was close. Montreal, as liberal and diverse as anyone, is on the verge of being swallowed once again. Montreal will be affected the most by these religious constraints.
To say there’s a need to remove religious symbols from the public sector is implying it creates problems in the first place. Why should it be a problem anywhere in Canada in 2013?
The Marois government needs to ask itself what this legislation is actually saying. Instead of saying ‘we accept you’ to the masses of diverse citizens they’re saying ‘do whatever you want as long as we don’t see it.’ The need for a more secular public face is a confrontation between true acceptance and shallow tolerance.
Harmony born out of religious constraints is nothing compared to a harmony born of acceptance and camaraderie. The outrage will only continue. That’s the role Montreal will play.
Hats off to a ridiculous legislation.
