Secularism rules expand to schools, daycares

Summary#

• This bill aims to strengthen state secularism in Quebec. It expands where and to whom existing rules apply, adds new limits on religious activities in public spaces and publicly controlled buildings, and tightens how religious accommodations are handled.
• It also gives a new Minister responsible for Secularism oversight powers, and changes rules for private schools that get subsidies.

Key changes:

• Extends the ban on wearing religious symbols to more workers, including staff in publicly funded daycares and subsidized private schools, some contractors in schools, and people who deliver immigrant welcome, language, and integration programs. Some current workers keep acquired rights if they stay in the same role and organization.
• Requires people to have their faces uncovered to receive services from listed daycare and higher‑education bodies, and when present in their facilities; also when getting education or training services elsewhere, or when needed for ID or safety. If you refuse, you cannot receive the service.
• Bans religious practice in buildings under the authority of public institutions and listed organizations, with specific exceptions (for example, hospitals if care is not affected, detention centres, private homes, some cultural practices of First Nations and Inuit, and certain rented venues under neutral terms). In subsidized private schools, manifest prayers are barred during class hours but may occur in optional activities outside those hours.
• Limits collective religious gatherings on public streets and in public parks unless a municipality approves them case by case under strict conditions. Sets fines for violations.
• Tightens rules for religious accommodations: allowed only if they impose no more than a minimal burden on the organization. Requests to be served by someone of a specific sex or gender identity are not allowed, unless for medical care or services involving physical contact. Sets clear guardrails for schools, colleges, daycares, and workplaces.
• Forbids institutions from offering only religious-based diets in their food services, from highlighting religious symbols in official communications (legacy logos allowed), and from requiring students to wear a religious sign (unless it is part of a pre‑existing logo).
• Blocks accreditation for private schools whose class‑time education or childcare is based on religious precepts or that select students or staff using religious criteria; allows the Education Minister to revoke accreditation.
• Creates a Minister responsible for Secularism with power to issue directives, inspect organizations, and require corrective action.
• Includes an override clause so the new neutrality law applies despite certain rights in the Quebec Charter and the Canadian Constitution.
• Timing: most rules start when the law is adopted. Some parts (face‑uncovered rules in certain settings and the new building‑use rules) start on September 1, 2026. Stronger private‑school revocation powers start three years after adoption, with a limited transition window for renewals.

What it means for you#

• Parents and children in care

  • Staff in publicly funded daycares and coordinating offices cannot wear religious symbols at work (some existing staff may keep their jobs with acquired rights).
  • You and other visitors must have your face uncovered to enter or receive services in listed childcare settings.
  • Daycare services cannot be organized around religious rules, and centres cannot offer only a religious diet.

• Students and families

  • In subsidized private elementary/secondary schools, staff and many service providers cannot wear religious symbols while working with students. The school cannot require students to wear a religious sign (old logos are exempt).
  • Schools may not hold manifest prayers during class hours; optional religious activities outside class time are allowed.
  • Colleges and universities must require faces to be uncovered to receive services where the rule applies.

• Educators, daycare workers, and school staff

  • If you work in a publicly funded daycare, coordinating office, or a subsidized private school, you may not wear religious symbols at work. Some workers in post before a set date can keep acquired rights if they stay in the same role and organization.
  • You must act without favouring or disadvantaging anyone because of religion or lack of religion.

• Contractors, volunteers, and partners in schools

  • Certain contractors and regular service providers in subsidized private schools are covered by the religious‑symbol ban while on site or working with students.
  • Organizations must write contracts that require compliance with face‑uncovered and neutrality rules.

• Newcomers in integration or francization programs

  • People who deliver welcome, language, or integration services to immigrants may not wear religious symbols while providing those services.

• People using public services

  • You must have your face uncovered to receive listed services or to enter certain public buildings, except where you are in a private residence or specific exceptions apply. If you refuse, the service can be denied.

• Faith groups and event organizers

  • Collective religious gatherings on streets or in public parks need advance municipal approval and must meet conditions (short duration, open to all, safe, and not blocking access). Fines apply for violations.
  • You cannot be stopped from worshipping inside a place of worship, and access to it cannot be blocked.

• Private school owners and leaders

  • To keep or obtain accreditation and subsidies, class‑time education and childcare cannot be based on religious rules or the transmission of religious beliefs. You cannot select students or staff by religious criteria. The Minister may revoke accreditation for non‑compliance, with a limited transition period.

• Municipalities

  • You must decide case by case on requests for collective religious use of streets and parks, applying set conditions. You may need to enforce the new rules and issue fines where needed.

• Health care settings

  • Religious practice is allowed in health centres if it does not harm care quality, operations, or patient well‑being.
  • Health workers keep the right, where law allows, to decline certain services based on personal convictions.

• General public

  • Government bodies and listed organizations cannot highlight religious symbols in their communications and cannot offer only religious‑based food options.
  • The province has created a Minister responsible for Secularism who can inspect organizations and require changes.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Creates clear, uniform rules so public services are neutral and treat everyone equally.
• Protects children in state‑funded settings from religious influence during service time.
• Clarifies accommodation rules to prevent unfair burdens on schools, workplaces, and services, while keeping health and safety first.
• Keeps public spaces neutral while still allowing worship in proper venues and limited permitted events outdoors.
• Respects Indigenous cultural practices and practical needs in hospitals and detention centres.
• Adds oversight so the law is applied consistently across Quebec.

Opponents' View#

• Limits freedom of religion and expression, especially for people who wear visible religious symbols, and may exclude them from public‑funded jobs.
• Face‑uncovered rules could block access to services for some women who cover their faces for religious reasons.
• Restrictions on collective prayer in parks and streets may curb peaceful religious gatherings in public spaces.
• New limits on subsidized private schools may be seen as state overreach into independent education and hiring.
• Broad enforcement powers and new duties may create administrative burdens and uneven application across cities and institutions.
• The use of override clauses to limit Charter protections reduces avenues to challenge rules that people see as discriminatory.