SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 299

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 15, 2024 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 299 - Apr/15/24
Mrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Salaberry—Suroît, BQ)
  • Apr/15/24 2:41:56 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal spoke at the Quebec National Assembly on Thursday. A worthy representative of the land of the Enlightenment, he delivered a spirited defence of state secularism, which both the French and Quebeckers hold in high esteem. France, like Quebec, prohibits government employees in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols. France's legislation goes even further than Quebec's Bill 21, which this Prime Minister wants to take to the Supreme Court on the pretext that it is discriminatory. Did the Prime Minister tell France that he finds it discriminatory, or does he reserve his contempt for Quebeckers?
104 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 299 - Apr/15/24
Mrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Salaberry—Suroît, BQ)
  • Apr/15/24 2:43:16 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, let me quote Prime Minister Attal: To those who pretend not to understand what secularism is, who try to distort it, to make people think it is a weapon against religion...to make people think it is a form of discrimination, we respond that secularism is a condition for freedom...equality [and]...fraternity. Our Liberal, Conservative and NDP colleagues are among those who pretend not to understand. Can they at least refrain from filing a Supreme Court challenge against something they do not understand?
86 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 299 - Apr/15/24
Mrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Salaberry—Suroît, BQ)
  • Apr/15/24 2:44:31 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister Attal told Quebeckers that they are not alone in their efforts to defend secularism. France has banned religious symbols for people in positions of authority since 1905. Belgium, Norway, Denmark and several German states are doing the same. I would like to quote the Court of Justice of the European Union: “In order to put in place an entirely neutral...environment, a public administration may prohibit the visible wearing...of any sign revealing...religious beliefs”. Is the European Union discriminatory too, or is it just Quebeckers?
92 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border