OTTAWA — The National Council for Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and Ichrak Nour El Hak, are seeking permission from the Supreme Court of Canada to hear an appeal to their constitutional challenge to Bill 21, Quebec’s law that prohibits religious symbols in certain sectors of the public service.
Bill 21, “An Act respecting the laicity of the State,” was enacted by the Quebec government on June 17, 2019. The legislation prohibits certain public sector employees, including teachers and police officers from wearing religious symbols while on duty. This includes items such as hijabs, turbans, kippahs, and crucifixes.
For almost five years, Bill 21 has resulted in widespread discrimination against individuals based on their religious beliefs. The recent decision of the Quebec Court of Appeal upholding Bill 21 is a significant setback for rights and freedoms across Canada.
“We are committed to upholding the values of religious freedom, democratic participation, and equality that are imbedded in our constitution and are at the heart of our democracy. That is why we are challenging this discriminatory and unconstitutional law,” says Harini Sivalingam, Director of the Equality Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. “We firmly believe that Bill 21 is a violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of all of us in Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada must weigh in on the pressing issues of whether our rights and freedoms can be so easily taken away by the government of the day and the role of the courts to safeguard these rights and freedoms.”
We are grateful for the excellent pro bono legal services of David Grossman, Olga Redko, and Marie-Hélène Lyonnais of IMK LLP in this case.
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
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