CBC NEWS
The Quebec government is expected to announce Friday that it will crack down on expressions of religion in subsidized daycare centres.
The Canadian Press has obtained documents from the Quebec Family Ministry that indicates the province will ban most forms of religion in centres that receive government money starting next June.
Those who disregard the new directive would be subject to various sanctions, including the possible loss of their government subsidy.
Family Minister Yolande James is expected to make the announcement at a Friday morning news conference in Montreal.
According to the documents, daycare workers would be allowed to say their own prayers but could not make children recite them.
Religious leaders including rabbis, imams and priests would also no longer be allowed to visit daycare centres.
While religious symbols such as crucifixes would still be allowed, they could not be used as an educational tool.
The Quebec government indicated last spring that they would move to ban religious instruction in government-subsidized daycares.
The opposition Parti-Québécois at the time demanded the government go even further and declare all daycares secular.
The government has in the past granted permits to daycares run by Islamic associations and Jewish rabbis.
An internal government audit has shown that about 20 daycares that receive public funding include religious instruction in their educational programs.
Read more: CBC News - Montreal - Quebec to curtail religion in public daycares
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I see this as a good move (finally something good from the Quebec Liberals!). But some of you might think differently...
The Quebec government is expected to announce Friday that it will crack down on expressions of religion in subsidized daycare centres.
The Canadian Press has obtained documents from the Quebec Family Ministry that indicates the province will ban most forms of religion in centres that receive government money starting next June.
Those who disregard the new directive would be subject to various sanctions, including the possible loss of their government subsidy.
Family Minister Yolande James is expected to make the announcement at a Friday morning news conference in Montreal.
According to the documents, daycare workers would be allowed to say their own prayers but could not make children recite them.
Religious leaders including rabbis, imams and priests would also no longer be allowed to visit daycare centres.
While religious symbols such as crucifixes would still be allowed, they could not be used as an educational tool.
The Quebec government indicated last spring that they would move to ban religious instruction in government-subsidized daycares.
The opposition Parti-Québécois at the time demanded the government go even further and declare all daycares secular.
The government has in the past granted permits to daycares run by Islamic associations and Jewish rabbis.
An internal government audit has shown that about 20 daycares that receive public funding include religious instruction in their educational programs.
Read more: CBC News - Montreal - Quebec to curtail religion in public daycares
---
I see this as a good move (finally something good from the Quebec Liberals!). But some of you might think differently...