CAQ consensus to tighten the Secularism Act
(Quebec) There is a consensus among CAQ MNAs to tighten the Act respecting the laicity of the State, says caucus chair François Jacques. However, Premier François Legault refrained from announcing a revision of this law to prevent "situations as shocking and especially as devastating for children" as that of Bedford School.
"We have to tell it like it is: we have a group of teachers who tried to bring Islamist religious concepts into a public school in Quebec," Legault said before heading to the Red Room for Question Period on Tuesday.
He asked his ministers Bernard Drainville (Education) and Jean-François Roberge (Secularism) to "look at how we can strengthen controls and secularism in Quebec schools." "We must take the time to examine all the options," he added without elaborating.
His two ministers did not want to comment on the possible options, mentioning the need to first make an "X-ray" of the situation.
For his part, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, father of the Act respecting the laicity of the State, maintained that this legislative text is clear and that the issue lies rather in its application. "In our schools, there is no place for religions. It's very clear. The secularism of the State must apply. On the question of modalities, how secularism is applied, my two colleagues are studying the issue," he said.
During a press scrum, François Jacques gave the CAQ MNA's opinion on whether or not it is necessary to reopen this law. Is there a consensus to tighten up the Secularism Act? "Yes, definitely!" he said.
How should the law be reviewed? Mr. Jacques did not want to comment. "We're going to let people work," he said, referring to Drainville and Roberge.
There was a discordant note between the two ministers on the issue. Bernard Drainville said that in light of the investigation into the Bedford school, he feels "legitimized to go a little further" than he has gone so far, and that it is necessary to "look at what could be done to strengthen this law."
Jean-François Roberge then wanted to correct the situation. "When the law is not fully applied, sometimes you don't have to change the law, you have to enforce it," he said.
Last week, La Presse reported on the government's reflections on the opportunity to tighten the pro-secularism arsenal to stop the emergence of religion in schools. It was written that the government was wondering how to strengthen its secular ramparts. With a directive? A regulation? A law on secularism 2.0? The debate is ongoing.
The story so far
Education Minister Bernard Drainville has suspended the teaching certificates of the 11 teachers at Bedford School who are under investigation for imposing a climate of terror.
The Montreal school service centre announced Saturday evening the administrative suspension of these teachers. The advice of the Inquiry Committees recommended that the Minister suspend the patents as well. According to the Minister, "the findings of the Committees of Inquiry are clear:
"We have to tell it like it is: we have a group of teachers who tried to bring Islamist religious concepts into a public school in Quebec," Legault said before heading to the Red Room for Question Period on Tuesday.
He asked his ministers Bernard Drainville (Education) and Jean-François Roberge (Secularism) to "look at how we can strengthen controls and secularism in Quebec schools." "We must take the time to examine all the options," he added without elaborating.
His two ministers did not want to comment on the possible options, mentioning the need to first make an "X-ray" of the situation.
For his part, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, father of the Act respecting the laicity of the State, maintained that this legislative text is clear and that the issue lies rather in its application. "In our schools, there is no place for religions. It's very clear. The secularism of the State must apply. On the question of modalities, how secularism is applied, my two colleagues are studying the issue," he said.
During a press scrum, François Jacques gave the CAQ MNA's opinion on whether or not it is necessary to reopen this law. Is there a consensus to tighten up the Secularism Act? "Yes, definitely!" he said.
How should the law be reviewed? Mr. Jacques did not want to comment. "We're going to let people work," he said, referring to Drainville and Roberge.
There was a discordant note between the two ministers on the issue. Bernard Drainville said that in light of the investigation into the Bedford school, he feels "legitimized to go a little further" than he has gone so far, and that it is necessary to "look at what could be done to strengthen this law."
Jean-François Roberge then wanted to correct the situation. "When the law is not fully applied, sometimes you don't have to change the law, you have to enforce it," he said.
Last week, La Presse reported on the government's reflections on the opportunity to tighten the pro-secularism arsenal to stop the emergence of religion in schools. It was written that the government was wondering how to strengthen its secular ramparts. With a directive? A regulation? A law on secularism 2.0? The debate is ongoing.
The story so far
Education Minister Bernard Drainville has suspended the teaching certificates of the 11 teachers at Bedford School who are under investigation for imposing a climate of terror.
The Montreal school service centre announced Saturday evening the administrative suspension of these teachers. The advice of the Inquiry Committees recommended that the Minister suspend the patents as well. According to the Minister, "the findings of the Committees of Inquiry are clear:
- they are concerned about the physical, psychological and emotional integrity of students;
- they question the quality of the education currently received by students;
- they consider that measures must be taken without delay to restore a climate free of all forms of violence, whether direct or indirect;
- they consider that the rights of students under the Education Act seem to be in jeopardy;
- they consider that there were apparent gaps in the professional competencies of the teaching profession;
- they consider that the facts described in the documentation consulted, including the investigation report, seem to go against the principles set out in the Act respecting the laicity of the State. »