Introduction of Bill 60

On 7 November 2013, Bernard Drainville officially introduced his bill (Bill 60) in the National Assembly. Bill 60 was—in general and apart from its title—almost identical to the charter presented in September. Entitled “Charter Affirming the Values of State Secularism and Religious Neutrality and of Equality Between Women and Men, and Providing a Framework for Accommodation Requests,” the bill reaffirmed the main objective of creating a neutral and secular society—a society that ensures “religious neutrality” and “equality between women and men.” The most controversial element of the original charter—the prohibition on the wearing by public servants of all religious objects that overtly indicate a religious affiliation—was reaffirmed. All conspicuous religious symbols, such as turbans, hijabs and yarmulkas, remained prohibited.

The differences between the charter unveiled in September and Bill 60 were minor. For example, the question of the crucifix in the National Assembly—the displaying of which was preserved and protected in the original bill—became the responsibility of the members of the National Assembly, who were given the power to approve its presence. As for the right to opt-out—which had been criticized for creating inconsistency and a “two-tiered” secularism—it was replaced by a “transition period.” Instead of exempting themselves from the charter’s requirements, municipal bodies and health and educational institutions would have the right to a one-year transition period, renewable for up to four more years. During this transition period the entities would be required to take measures to ensure that, at the end of the period, their employees were able to comply with the obligations in the charter.

Controversy: opposition and support

The unveiling of the charter in September caused quite a stir and divided the population of Québec. According to a survey by Léger Marketing on 16 September 2013, 43 per cent of Québécois supported the charter while 42 per cent were opposed to it. Only a few days later, another survey showed that 52 per cent of Québécois were in favour of the charter and 37 per cent opposed it.

Several demonstrations took place in Québec, including in the streets of Montréal, where more than 4,000 demonstrators appeared on 14 September 2013, to protest the charter. Chanting slogans such as “Charter of Shame” and “valeurs péquistes, valeurs racistes” (“PQ [Parti Québécois] values, racist values”), the demonstrators expressed opposition to what they perceived as Islamophobia and xenophobia and a secularism that favoured and protected the Catholic religion. The following week, charter supporters demonstrated in the streets of Montréal in favour of secularism and neutrality. According to several demonstrators, the charter was the only way to protect Québec’s values. Each side relied on the support of key entities and individuals. Those in favour of the charter were supported by the Parti Québécois, the Bloc Québécois, and several politicians, intellectuals, and artists such as Daniel Turp, Bernard Landry, Paul Piché, Guy Rocher, and Louise Beaudoin. As for those opposing the charter, they found support in the Liberal Party of Québec, Québec Solidaire, Jacques Parizeau, and Lucien Bouchard.

Outside of Québec, all of the federal political parties (with the exception of the Bloc Québécois) were opposed to the charter. According to party leaders Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau, and Thomas Mulcair, the charter was unconstitutional and antithetical to the rights of all Canadians. Amnesty International also criticized the charter, declaring it to be an attack on freedom of religion. Although most of the population of Canada generally opposed the charter, Canadians did accept some of its elements. For example, according to a survey by Angus Reid, 68 per cent of respondents believed that the wearing of a kirpan or a burka by a public servant should be prohibited.

An earlier version of this entry was published by The Canadian Encyclopedia .