Hey wasn't this the reason that Harper lost the last election?
Read moreWhen the Quebec Liberals passed their religious neutrality bill last week, it was an attempt to fulfil an election promise*and quell a debate that's been flaring up in the province for the better part of a decade. Instead, it's*prompted protest and criticism from both sides of the debate.*
Bill 62*states that anyone giving or receiving public services must do so with their face uncovered. The law applies to municipal and provincial services, including public transit, health care*and libraries.*
As a province, Quebec has a unique relationship to secularism that dates back to the Quiet Revolution of the*1960s, when Quebecers rejected the powerful grip of the Catholic Church.
The idea of legislating religious neutrality and providing a framework for requests for accommodation on religious grounds has been*debated*repeatedly in Quebec's legislature.*The challenge, though, has always been*actually setting the rules, including who*they target*and just*how far they extend into daily life.*