A Montreal elementary school is at the centre of a secularism debate. Here’s how we got here [Video]

In the last few weeks, an elementary school in Montreal’s west-central Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood has been mired in controversy.

This past weekend, 11 teachers were suspended for allegedly creating a toxic environment for students and staff that goes back to 2016. On Tuesday, their teaching licences were also suspended.

The allegations are the subject of a 90-page government report.

Since the suspensions were announced, many provincial politicians have weighed in on the issue, including the premier of Quebec. The conversation about the safety and well-being of students has evolved into a wider discussion about religion in public institutions and the province’s secularism law, commonly referred to as Bill 21.

Here’s a look at how we got here and how the tone shifted in just a matter of days. 

Government steps in

Bedford elementary school is part of the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM), the largest …