The federal government has officially filed a notice to intervene in the Supreme Court of Canada’s hearing on Quebec’s secularism law.
The top court announced in January it had granted leave to appeal to several groups that oppose the law, though no date has been set for the hearing.
Bill 21 was passed in 2019 and prohibits civil servants in positions of authority, including teachers and police officers, from wearing religious symbols on the job.
The justice department says the federal government is committed to upholding the rights of all Canadians, including freedom of religion.
Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette says the federal government’s decision is an attack on Quebec’s autonomy, and is vowing to defend the law.
Quebec invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to shield Bill 21 from constitutional challenges, and lower courts have largely upheld the law.
Related Stories
Chinese Scientists Flagged Glacial Flood Danger One Year Before Nepal Catastrophe
More than a year before the catastrophic flash flood devastated the China–Nepal...
Iceland Focuses on Security Partnerships After Voters Reject Opening EU Membership Talks
Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir attends a press conference...
Italy, Spain Extend Tit-for-Tat Border Curbs After Ceuta Illegal Immigrant Crisis
Immigrants gather on a hill as they attempt crossing from the border...
Vaccine Maker Halts Trial on mRNA Cancer Shot
A pharmacist administers the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Los Angeles, Calif., on October...
