Previously considered safe from legislation that would put the religious and cultural traditions of immigrant groups in jeopardy, Canada may soon crack down on religious freedoms. The Quebec province seems set on banning public sector employees from wearing religious symbols — such as skull caps, turbans, headscarves and crucifixes — during work hours. This includes teachers, judges and police officers — all professions which are closely associated with the identity of the state. Luckily, government employees currently serving in the French-speaking province will be exempt from this regulation.
This is not the first such law to be passed in the province either. In 2017 Quebec passed a law banning full-face coverings for anyone giving or receiving state services. However, it was suspended by a judge last June, and has remained in limbo since then.
The proposed law has put Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau on a collision course with the right-wing Coalition Avenir Qubec (CAQ), which was elected last year after pledging to restrict immigration and preserve Canada’s secular identity. What is even more consequential is that this is an election year for Canada, and Quebec is a crucial constituency which will determine the outcome of the election. In short, the stage is being set for what kind of country Canada will be for the next few years; will it be an inclusive state or will it become another version of Donald Trump’s America?
Unfortunately, a certain amount of damage has already been done to the Canadian political system, considering that issues like immigration and the headscarf are being considered consequential enough to determine who the people will be voting for. Furthermore, this will only legitimise the narratives of terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, who use bias against Muslims in the West by asserting that these countries will never fully embrace their Muslim citizens as equals.
It is hoped that better sense will prevail as the Canadian elections draw closer. The wave of bigotry that has swept the globe for the past few years must be stopped. The recent attack on a mosque in New Zealand has shown what the consequences can be if hatred is allowed to thrive unchecked. *