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Quebec Report on Cultural Accommodation Issued

By Howard M. Friedman

In Canada last week, Quebec's Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences (also known as the Bouchard-Taylor Commission) issued its final report. (Full text of abridged report.) A May 22 press release describes a number of the recommendations relating to state neutrality and accommodation of religion:

representatives who must embody to the utmost State neutrality and maintain the appearance of impartiality that is essential to the exercising of their duties [should] 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....

Students who wish to wear in class religious signs such as the hidjab, kippah or turban should be able to do so. Students must not be exempted from compulsory courses in the name of freedom of religion. Educational institutions are not required to offer permanent prayer rooms.... However, it is in keeping with the spirit of adjustment to authorize for the purpose of prayer the use of temporarily unoccupied rooms.

In response, according to the Montreal Gazette, last week the National Assembly voted unanimously to adopt a resolution that expresses "its attachment to our religious and historic heritage represented particularly by the crucifix in our Blue Room and our coat of arms adorning our institutions." (Full text of resolution at pg. 840). A post yesterday on Wall of Separation reviews Canadian reaction to the recommendation to remove the crucifix displayed over the speakers chair in the National Assembly. (See prior related posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 29, 2008 (boomark / email).