Religious neutrality of the State
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Over the past 30 years, the Commission published several studies and opinions on discrimination based on religion, management of religious diversity as well as reasonable accommodation and religion. Based on its expertise, as well as its past legal opinions founded on Québec, Canadian and international law, the Commission has, among other things, analyzed and commented on Bill 21 on the secularism of the State as well as other previous bills that sought to frame the religious neutrality of the State and requests for religious accommodation. |
English language translations are provided when available.
2019 | The Commission analyses Bill 21 on state secularism (laïcité). While supporting the inclusion of secularism in a law, it expresses serious concerns about how secularism would be translated into practice. It recommends that several sections of the bill, including those dealing with the wearing of religious symbols, which may infringe human rights and freedoms and encourage negative perceptions and prejudices against religious symbols, should not be adopted.
- News release on state secularism
- Présentation sur le Projet de loi no 21 sur la laïcité de l'État (French only)
- Mémoire sur le Projet de loi no 21 sur la laïcité de l'État (French only)
- Foire aux questions sur la neutralité religieuse de l'État (French only)
- Trousse d'information média: Projet de loi no 21 sur la laïcité de l'État (French only)
2016 | The Commission comments Bill 62, reitering that the state’s religious neutrality and the duty of reasonable accommodation are already defined and marked in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and warning against the misinterpretation of these concepts.
- News release on Bill 62
- News release on the adoption of Bill 62 (October 20, 2017) (In french only)
- Mémoire (In french only) (PDF, 646 Ko)
2014 | The Commission comments Bill 60, Charter affirming the values of State secularism and religious neutrality and of equality between women and men, and providing a framework for accommodation requests. The Commission considers this bill to be a clear setback for human rights and freedoms and believes it is likely to create more opportunities for conflict and disputes.
- President's statement on Bill 60, the Secular Charter (In French only)
- Summary of the brief on Bill 60 (PDF, 334 Ko)
- Mémoire (In french only) (PDF, 2 Mo)
2013 | The Commission releases its comments on the government policy paper regarding secularism and reasonable accommodations, entitled: Parce que nos valeurs, on y croit.
- Comments on the government policy paper (PDF, 415 Ko)
- News release on the government policy paper
- News release calling for the respect of the principles of non-discrimination guaranteed in the Québec Charter
- Rights for all people
- Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms (French only)
- Reasonable accommodation requests (French only)
- Reasonable accommodation obligation (French only)
- Equality between men and women (French only)
- The neutrality of the state derives from the freedom of religion (French only)
- Integration and discrimination (French only)
2011 | The Commission commented on Bill 94 establishing guidelines governing accommodation requests within the Administration in particular with respect to showing one's face during the delivery of services.
- Communiqué (In french only) (PDF, 26 Ko)
- Mémoire (In french only) (PDF, 188 Ko)
2010 | The Commission published an opinion on the guidelines of the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) governing reasonable accommodation. In the three cases analyzed, the Commission explained that the RAMQ had no duty to accommodate.
- Communiqué (In french only) (PDF, 33 Ko)
- Avis (In french only) (PDF, 124 Ko)
2009 | The Commission commented on the Société de l'Assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)'s accommodation policy during driving tests.
- Commentaires (French only) (PDF, 99 Ko)
2008 | The Commission concluded that the ethics and religious culture courses comply with the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
- Avis (French only) (PDF, 149 Ko)
2008 | The Commission reviewed the legal principles regarding the expression of faith in the public sphere, and the relationship between the State and religion. It also explained the legal basis for freedom of religion and the State’s obligation of neutrality under the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
- Document de réflexion (French only) (PDF, 990 Ko)
| The Commission has published other documents concerning religion. They can be accessed through the Publications section of our website.
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To learn more...
- Religion : Prohibited ground of discrimination
- Information page on reasonable accomodation
Did you know ?
Since 2008, complaints based on religion make up between 2% and 4% of all complaints filed for human rights at the Commission. In 2020-2021, this represented 12 complaint files.