Q&A: Quebec minister defends religious ban
Parti Quebecois wants to keep religious clothing such as turbans, yarmulkes and big crosses out of the public workplace.
Drainville's bill has divided Quebec residents, who are evenly split among those for and against it (Reuters)
Last updated: 13 Jan 2014 11:45
Daniel Lak
Quebec, Canada - Earlier in November, a separatist party in Quebec proposed a law that would ban public employees from wearing religious symbols in the workplace. The Parti Quebecois introduced the formerly titled "Charter of Quebec values". The secularism charter now known as Bill 60 would ban state employees from wearing clothing or displaying objects "that overtly indicate a religious affiliation". This includes headscarves, yarmulkes, turbans, or "larger-than-average" crucifixes.
The prohibitions would apply to civil servants, teachers, police, firefighters, doctors, nurses and public day-care employees. The bill would further prohibit citizens from covering their faces while receiving public services, such as applying for driver's licences, for the purpose of identification.
Recent polls, however, show the proposal has so far divided the Canadian province's population, with Quebecers evenly split among those for and against it - and opponents saying it discriminates against religious minorities.
Bernard Drainville is a member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Marie-Victorin and the minister responsible for Democratic Institutions and Active Citizenship. Al Jazeera spoke to Drainville, who introduced the charter and defends the bill, saying that although it is a "sensitive issue... it is a passionate debate, but it is a necessary debate".
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/01/qa-quebec-minister-defends-religious-ban-201415102335901572.html
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