(Quebec) Riding associations of Québec solidaire put on the table the law 21 on the secularism of the State on the last day of the congress, an issue which was not on the menu of the proposals initially submitted by the authorities of the party .
Sunday, at the end of discussions as long as they were lively, there was rejection of the two amendments suggested by these associations which, according to many, would have had the effect of diluting the party’s position aimed at repealing the law altogether. Rather, it was suggested that this legislative text of the Legault government be amended to remove certain articles from it.
“We should not have had any debate on this issue, because it was already resolved, we have a position against the law,” argued activist Fehr Marouf. It just serves to confuse the movement to give the impression that we are not directly against the law and that there are still things to discuss. There is nothing to discuss: it is a racist law, and we vote no! ”
For her part, Hélène Bissonnette said she was “a little shocked that we are having this discussion today” given that the party has already taken a position. “The job we have to do is say no to racism in Quebec, no to Bill 21, no to the wave of identity nationalism. I think we have a very clear message to send, and if it’s not us who is going to do it, who is going to do it? […] Law 21 is not a law on secularism, it is a law that is used to send racist sub-speech in fact. It is a law that serves to attack oppressed minorities. I invite you to vote against it. ”
The debate arose during the study of proposals to “combat discrimination and systemic racism”. The party authorities made no allusion to Law 21. However, constituency associations brought the matter to the table with two amendments.
“A united government will amend the Law on the secularism of the State to remove the discriminatory articles concerning the prohibition of the wearing of religious symbols in certain public services and the derogatory clauses”, it was proposed. The other amendment stipulated: “A united government will amend the Law on the secularism of the State to remove the derogatory clauses and suspend the articles concerning the prohibition of the wearing of religious symbols.” It will then proceed with a request for referral to the Court of Appeal for it to examine the presence in the law of clauses that may infringe fundamental rights. The law will be amended accordingly. ”
Several activists have argued that these amendments give the impression that QS no longer wants to repeal Bill 21 or cause confusion. They won their case in the votes.
Adopted under gag order at the National Assembly in June 2019, Law 21 on the secularism of the State prohibits the wearing of religious symbols by teachers and directors of public schools, as well as by other agents of the State. in a position of authority (police, correctional officers, lawyers and judges).
In the spring of 2019, during a national council, Quebec solidaire activists overwhelmingly rejected the traditional position of their party in favor of the recommendation of the Bouchard-Taylor report – which aims to outlaw religious symbols for police officers. the state with coercive power (police, prison guards, crown attorneys and judges). They had voted to oppose any ban. Since then, Québec solidaire has pleaded for the repeal of Bill 21.
The congress enabled members to define the orientations of the electoral platform in view of the 2022 election. The proposals adopted on Sunday largely take up the commitments already made by QS in the past, such as the construction of 50,000 social housing units and the set up a commission of inquiry into systemic racism.
The activists endorsed the appointment of Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois as candidate for the post of prime minister – which confirms his function as parliamentary leader, and that of Manon Massé as candidate for the post of deputy prime minister.
Alejandra Zaga Mendez, ex-candidate in Bourassa-Sauvé and researcher in ecological economics, succeeds Nika Deslauriers as president of the party.