Quebec creates new committee to study whether secularism rules are being followed – Montreal [Video]

The Quebec government has announced a new committee to make recommendations on how to strengthen secularism in the province, including by possibly restricting public prayer.

Amid a flurry of concern over religious practices emerging in Quebec public schools, Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge said the committee will “document the phenomenon of infiltration of religious influences” in all public institutions.

He said the committee will also look at what can be done to prevent people from praying in public streets and parks, including during protests — something Quebec Premier François Legault has said he wants to ban.

Roberge said the committee’s recommendations could lead to changes to Quebec’s secularism law, Bill 21, or to new policies and regulations. Bill 21 bans public employees like teachers and police officers from wearing religious symbols on the job.

“We will do what is necessary to protect ourselves against religious influences and strengthen the secularism of the state,” Roberge …