It was to be expected. A group of Muslim associations will challenge in court the decree prohibiting prayer rooms in public schools in Quebec.
It should be noted that Muslim associations are numerous and active in Canada and in particular in Quebec where secularism has become one of the identity values.
The Muslim Association of Canada, the Forum of Canadian Muslims, the Muslim Community Center of Montreal, the Muslim Association of North America in Laval and the Islamic Community Center of Brossard prepare to appear before the Superior Court of Quebec In the coming months.
It is difficult to obtain information on these different associations which work rather in the shadows even if they are officially well established. How many members do they have? What is the profile of its members? Who funds them? We don’t know, to tell the truth.
Let’s be clear. We do not question their right to go to court because all Canadians are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- Listen to Denise Bombardier’s column at the microphone of every Monday and every Friday, live or as a podcast on :
Right to prayers
On April 19, the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, issued a directive after young Muslims had occupied premises during Ramadan to pray in a few schools, primarily in Laval.
The plaintiffs are now demanding that they be given “reasonable accommodation” to pray alone or in a group “anywhere on the school premises”.
Do we believe that this rowdy outing of Muslim associations will subside in the heat of summer? Can we imagine Prime Minister Legault coming to publicly contradict his minister Bernard Drainville at the risk of making him cry again?
The CAQ government knows very well that Quebec laws on language and secularism risk being challenged in the courts in the years to come. In terms of language by the Trudeau government in particular.
The architect of postnational Canada, promoter of the catechism of individual rights, of diversity from coast to coast and of an equality that excludes identity claims from Quebec, is preparing for an election that he would like majority for his party.
- Listen to Denise Bombardier’s column at the microphone of every Monday and every Friday, live or as a podcast on :
Dead end
François Legault, all in his passion for the economic development of Quebec, is criticized for having filed his demands in the closet. But it is certain that Justin Trudeau is reluctant to cede powers to Quebec in particular, especially in matters of immigration.
The CAQ premier will have to rest this summer, because fall will not just be leaves falling from the trees. The demands of religious Muslims regarding prayer at school will not go away.
The fall will also be hot because of the demands of public and parapublic sector unions, the deterioration of the political climate while the opposition parties, the PQ and QS, are chomping at the bit to stay so far from power.
Whatever one may say, in Canada and particularly in Quebec, the debates aroused by our little “local” miseries, as some claim, are interrelated with the telluric and political tremors that are shaking the entire planet. So, our reasonable accommodations, the kindness of the members of the CAQ towards their leader and the progressivism of Justin Trudeau are drops of water in the rough seas that border our regions.