Quebec's New Law on Public Prayer

This is Montreal, Quebec, one of the great cosmopolitan cities of

North America. And just days back, in response to the outrage

among Quebec citizens over scenes just like this, the government of Quebec

did something that almost no Western government has had the

nerve to do. They looked at the sight of Muslims

blocking streets and

sidewalks for public prayer right in front of the Notre Dame Basilica, and they

said, "Not here, not anymore." And what they did

next sent shockwaves far beyond the borders of Quebec.

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Let's start with what actually happened.

Now, for the past several years, a group called Montreal for Palestine

has been gathering outside Notre Dame Basilica, one of the most historic,

iconic Catholic churches on the continent, and conducting organized

public prayers in the streets. Not quiet, private devotion.

Organized, amplified, in the road, blocking the public

way. Again, often right in front of Quebec's Catholic

church.

And Quebec Premier François Legault watched it happen, and he

said publicly, "This is not going to be happening anymore in

Quebec.

We're not doing this, and we're certainly not going to stand by

and let you

continue to do this." And to his credit, it turns out he meant

it, because just days ago, on April second, his

government made it the law. Bill nine, formally titled

An Act Respecting the Reinforcement of Laïcité in Quebec,

is now the law of the land in Canada's most culturally assertive

province. And here's what it does.

Number one, no group prayer on any public road, park,

or

public space without explicit case-by-case municipal

approval by resolution. Number two, designated prayer

rooms in universities, in Quebec's public community colleges,

they're all

now banned. Number three, daycare workers at subsidized centers are

now prohibited from wearing religious symbols, particularly the

hijab.

Number four, full face coverings are banned for staff and students in

daycares, public colleges, and universities.

And number five, public hospitals cannot exclusively offer

religiously prescribed

meals such as halal, kosher, or otherwise.

And number six, private religious schools

that want public funding have

three years to stop selecting students and staff based on religion or lose every

dollar of public money. This is a comprehensive, sweeping,

unapologetic defense of what is known as laïcité, the secular

public square. Now...