Institutional Neutrality

The Canadian province of Quebec had experienced some public discontent concerning reasonable accommodation of cultural differences in Quebec society. Some true blue Quebeckers had problems with people who did not conform to what they considered to be normal for Quebec society. As a result, the Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences was struck in 2007, and the final report was made public on May 22, 2008.

Among the recommendations mentioned in a press release was this one: The Co-Chairs recommend that representatives who must embody to the utmost State neutrality and maintain the appearance of impartiality that is essential to the exercising of their duties be prohibited from wearing religious signs. This is true of judges, Crown prosecutors, police officers, prison guards and the president and vice-president of the National Assembly. However, teachers, civil servants, health professionals and all other government employees should be allowed to continue to wear religious signs. In keeping with the same principle of neutrality, the crucifix in the National Assembly and the reciting of prayers at meetings of municipal councils should not be permitted in a secular State. (Source: https://www.accommodements.qc.ca/communiques/2008-05-22b-en.html)

Recently, one of the members of the Commission, Charles Taylor, was interviewed on a Radio-Canada TV show, Tout le monde en parle. When asked various questions on different matters, he reiterated essentially what was found in the paragraph above, namely that most civil servants should be allowed to wear religious symbols on their person, but the crucifix hanging in the legislature (National Assembly) had to go.

The legislature has already voted to keep the crucifix for heritage reasons, andon that same show, an opposition party member, Pauline Marois of the Parti Qubcois, defended the move. On the other hand, she would also ban the wearing of religious symbols for all civil servants. She is especially concerned with women who wear a symbol which denotes an inferior status, such as some Islamic dressing.

I tend to side with Taylor, especially about displaying the crucifix, but I can also understand Maroiss concerns where a symbol seems to go against the principle of equality of the sexes.

What do YOU think?

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