Quebec wants to expand religious symbol ban, blocking Muslim garments in civil service

Quebec's new government is planningto blockMuslim women who work in the civil service from wearing the chador, a shawl-like piece of clothing that covers the head and body, and the niqab, which also covers the face.

Coalition Avenir Qubec PremierFranoisLegault has already made clear his intention to prohibit those who holdpositions of authorityincluding teachersfrom wearing religious symbols, such as the hijab, a Muslim headscarf.

The ban on the chadorand niqab, however, would extend to all employees in the public sector. A representative from the CAQcouldn't say how many people such a ban would affect.

Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, the government's point person when it comes to ensuring thesecularism of the state, said Wednesday the government plans to "move quickly" to introduce a law.

"It was always our position to prohibit the chador in the public service," said Jolin-Barrette, in response to questions following a report in the Journal de Montral about the government's stance.

There is no mention of banning the garments in the CAQ's online platform, but the party has played up its commitment to such a policy in the past.

In 2016, the CAQ said on Twitter thatit would "defend Quebec values" by banning the chador, unlike its rivals, the Liberals and the Parti Qubcois.

Jolin-Barrettesaid it was too early to provide details on exactly how and when the law would be implemented.

Later on Wednesday,Legaultsaid a law prohibiting religious symbols isn't "a priority" for the CAQ, which created some confusion about the issue.

"One important value is equality between men and women, so we want to protect that.Now, is this a priority?No," he said.

'Surreal' debate

Montreal lawyerShahadSalman, who wears a hijab, said she is discouraged the new government and the media continues to focus on identity issues"rather than talking about real issues."

"It's so surreal that we're talking about this again, honestly," she said. Salmansaid such debates are counterproductive if politicians want minorities to become more integrated into Quebec society.

As it stands, when it comes to minoritiesinQuebec's civil service, the percentagedoesn't reflect the overall population.

Visible minorities made up 9.4 per cent of the province's public workforce in 2017, although they constitute 13 per cent of the overall population, according to a study by theInstitutde recherche et d'informations socio-conomiques,

The CAQ'splanned ban on religious symbolshas been criticized by civil rights advocateswho contend the policy will further marginalize vulnerable minorities.

Charles Taylor, author of a landmark 2008 report on the accommodation of religious minorities in the province, called the proposal "either very ignorant or very intellectually dishonest."

In a recent interview, hepointed out that his report explicitly recommended against including teachers in aban on the wearing of religious garb.

"We meant it to apply only to people with functions that we called 'coercive authority' police and judges.Functions that can put you in jail," Taylor said.

Lacking'coherent plan,' Liberals say

The CAQwon a decisive majority in the Quebec election earlier this month, beating out Philippe Couillard'sLiberals.

Pierre Arcand, the interim leader for the Liberals, said the CAQdoesn't appear to have a "coherent plan" when it comes to religious symbols.

The new government appears to be floating a new trial balloon every day, he said.

Arcand said hewould reserve comment until a bill is tabled.

With files from Cathy Senayand Steve Rukavina