Ottawa sets up prayer rooms
for its public servants
(Ottawa) If the Legault government seeks to ban prayer rooms in schools in Quebec, the Trudeau government is taking the opposite path.
The Department of Defense also plans to set up prayer rooms in the new facilities that will be built near the hangars that are to house the new F-35 fighter jets in Bagotville and Cold Lake, according to our information
Bagotville military base, whose new facilities will include a prayer room
"As a service provider to other departments, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) knows that, since 2015, more or less 52 multi-faith rooms have been set up in 46 federal buildings across the country," Alexandre Baillairgé-Charbonneau, spokesman for the department, said in an email to La Presse.
He said that it is up to the various ministries to finance the development of these rooms.
Last month, Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced that a directive has been passed by Cabinet that no place in a public school should be used for prayer. The purpose of this directive, according to him, is to preserve the secular character of schools. But this measure is being challenged in court by a coalition of Muslim associations, which argues that it contravenes other government laws, in addition to violating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"The lobbies have done a good job"Asked about federal efforts since 2015, Thursday, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois, Yves-François Blanchet, argued that Ottawa and Quebec are more than ever poles apart on the issue of the secularism of the state.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet
"Not content with contesting, with our own taxes, the value of secularism of the state space inherited from the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, Ottawa is providing a religious space in its facilities. The lobbies have done a good job. It's like Justin Trudeau saying, "Do you have a little 15 minutes? Go and pray a little...!" Incredible! " said the Bloc leader.
At Treasury Board, it was noted that the obligation to respect the religious practices of public service employees has been included in collective agreements in recent years.
The federal government must therefore ensure that prayer rooms are set up in buildings it owns or leases to allow public servants to take a prayer break if they wish.
"Many collective agreements contain clauses relating to religious practices and provisions to protect against discrimination on the basis of religious affiliation. Prayer breaks, accommodations with religious clothing or the use of leave entitlements to fulfill religious obligations are all examples of accommodations that take into account religious obligations," said Martin Potvin, Head of Media Relations at the Treasury Board Secretariat.
A culture of "inclusion"As a result, each ministry must take the necessary steps to accommodate employees who want to take time to practice their religion, unless the accommodation "imposes undue hardship."
The Government of Canada is committed to creating a representative, diverse and barrier-free public service, and to fostering a culture that values inclusion, fosters a deep sense of belonging and sees difference as a source of strength.
Martin Potvin, Treasury Board Secretariat Spokesperson
He noted that the Canadian Human Rights Act requires the federal government, as an employer, to "identify and remove" barriers that negatively impact employees. The Act prohibits discriminatory practices in employment and service provision based on 13 grounds, including religion.
The Ministry of Defence has clarified that the new facilities for future fighters include state-of-the-art security, information, maintenance and training facilities and equipment. The prayer rooms will be located in the headquarters.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence, Andrée-Anne Poulin, also recalled that the practice of a religion of one's choice is a right protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
"The CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] aims to have an inclusive workforce, representative of Canada's cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic composition, as well as its regional diversity, and adheres to the principles of equality for all and the human dignity and worth of all human beings," she said in an email.
"In this context, CAF facilities across the country are equipped with multi-faith rooms (or prayer rooms) that are available to members who wish to gather or pray in a quiet and secluded location."
- The federal government has set up about fifty prayer rooms since 2015 in the buildings where public servants work.
- Prayer rooms will also be set up at new military facilities adjacent to the hangars that will house the new F-35 fighter jets in Bagotville, Quebec, and Cold Lake, Alberta.
- Quebec wants to ban prayer rooms in public schools.
The Department of Defense also plans to set up prayer rooms in the new facilities that will be built near the hangars that are to house the new F-35 fighter jets in Bagotville and Cold Lake, according to our information
Bagotville military base, whose new facilities will include a prayer room
"As a service provider to other departments, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) knows that, since 2015, more or less 52 multi-faith rooms have been set up in 46 federal buildings across the country," Alexandre Baillairgé-Charbonneau, spokesman for the department, said in an email to La Presse.
He said that it is up to the various ministries to finance the development of these rooms.
Last month, Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced that a directive has been passed by Cabinet that no place in a public school should be used for prayer. The purpose of this directive, according to him, is to preserve the secular character of schools. But this measure is being challenged in court by a coalition of Muslim associations, which argues that it contravenes other government laws, in addition to violating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"The lobbies have done a good job"Asked about federal efforts since 2015, Thursday, the leader of the Bloc Quebecois, Yves-François Blanchet, argued that Ottawa and Quebec are more than ever poles apart on the issue of the secularism of the state.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet
"Not content with contesting, with our own taxes, the value of secularism of the state space inherited from the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, Ottawa is providing a religious space in its facilities. The lobbies have done a good job. It's like Justin Trudeau saying, "Do you have a little 15 minutes? Go and pray a little...!" Incredible! " said the Bloc leader.
At Treasury Board, it was noted that the obligation to respect the religious practices of public service employees has been included in collective agreements in recent years.
The federal government must therefore ensure that prayer rooms are set up in buildings it owns or leases to allow public servants to take a prayer break if they wish.
"Many collective agreements contain clauses relating to religious practices and provisions to protect against discrimination on the basis of religious affiliation. Prayer breaks, accommodations with religious clothing or the use of leave entitlements to fulfill religious obligations are all examples of accommodations that take into account religious obligations," said Martin Potvin, Head of Media Relations at the Treasury Board Secretariat.
A culture of "inclusion"As a result, each ministry must take the necessary steps to accommodate employees who want to take time to practice their religion, unless the accommodation "imposes undue hardship."
The Government of Canada is committed to creating a representative, diverse and barrier-free public service, and to fostering a culture that values inclusion, fosters a deep sense of belonging and sees difference as a source of strength.
Martin Potvin, Treasury Board Secretariat Spokesperson
He noted that the Canadian Human Rights Act requires the federal government, as an employer, to "identify and remove" barriers that negatively impact employees. The Act prohibits discriminatory practices in employment and service provision based on 13 grounds, including religion.
The Ministry of Defence has clarified that the new facilities for future fighters include state-of-the-art security, information, maintenance and training facilities and equipment. The prayer rooms will be located in the headquarters.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence, Andrée-Anne Poulin, also recalled that the practice of a religion of one's choice is a right protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
"The CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] aims to have an inclusive workforce, representative of Canada's cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic composition, as well as its regional diversity, and adheres to the principles of equality for all and the human dignity and worth of all human beings," she said in an email.
"In this context, CAF facilities across the country are equipped with multi-faith rooms (or prayer rooms) that are available to members who wish to gather or pray in a quiet and secluded location."
