Sikh teacher moves to B.C. over Quebec law banning religious symbols in public-sector jobs

Amrit Kaur, who recently graduated to become a teacher, has moved across the country from her Montreal-area home to B.C. soshe can work while wearing her turban, after the Quebec government passed alaw banning religious symbols for some public-sector employees.

"I have a new job as a high school teacher which I'm very excited about," said Kaur, 28, who recently arrived inSurrey, B.C. "It's unfortunate that I had to leave my home province to pursue my career."

Kauris a member of the Sikh faith and believes the law, formerly known as Bill 21, violates her human rights.

"People who look like myself, we are being told that we're second-class citizens."

Kaur, also vice-president of the World Sikh Organization of Quebec, saidher turban represents equality and is part of her identity.

"If you look all across the world, you will see traditionally men wearing turbans, but in the Sikh faith we believe men and women are the same. So me wearing a turban is very empowering because it's telling the world that I'm no different than a Sikh man," she said.

"I am empowered because I wear my turban, I don't need saving," she said.

Teachers already on the job at Quebec public schools are exemptif they stay in the same position. Kaur had not begun teaching in Quebec.

She has a one-year contract to teach English, humanities and social sciencesat a private Surrey high schoolstarting in September.

Kaursaid shefelt she had no choice but to leave her home province, and she empathizes with public sector workers who don't have the same opportunity.

"I have the privilege of leaving the province because I got a job outside, but there are still people who will endure the effects of Bill 21," she said."Our lives are so disrupted. I'm very much a Quebecerand I'd always like to go back home."

Legal wrangling

The new secularism law bans public school teachers, police officers, government lawyers, judges and other authority figures from wearing religious symbols such as a hijab, turban or kippaat work.

Itinvokes the notwithstanding clause, which protects the legislationfrom being contested on the grounds it violates the right to religious freedom under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The religious symbols law was a major campaign promise during last year's provincial election in Quebec.

Quebec Premier Franois Legault has argued the law is neededto ensure the secularism of the state and stop debates about how to accommodate cultural minorities.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association filed a legal challenge hours after it was passed in June, and the case isstill winding its way through the court system.

Advocacy groups argue that by limiting access to certain public institutions, Bill 21 is criminal legislation something outside the province's jurisdiction.

In July, a Quebec Superior Court rejected an emergency request to temporarily suspend parts of the new religious symbols law, which promptedthe two advocacy groups to file an application at Quebec's Court of Appeal.

Waiting for a final resolution could take time.

B.C. welcomes Quebec teachers

As the court battle continues,B.C.Education Minister Rob Flemingis encouragingteachers from Quebec to apply for jobs in his province, which he said is experiencinga "resurgence" in French-language schooling.

Fleming said that last year, B.C. accepted close to 900 out-of-province teachers.

"We don't police what kind of faith or observances individuals have. We judge them on the kind of competenciesand the job that they do for the public."