The old comedian’s joke seems to apply to Quebec Premier Francois Legault Thursday as his government has introduced a bill to forbid public workers in “positions of authority” from wearing religious symbols such as a Moslem hijab, Jewish kippa or Sikh turban. News stories are unclear about whether the religious symbols ban extends to a crucifix or cross in the form of a necklace. Nor is there a full list of just who in authority is included in the ban but it seems certain to include the police and military and senior government employees. There is a grandfathered prohibition of the ban for teachers and principals. Those now wearing such symbols may continue to do so but new hires will be subject to the ban. Legault has also ordered that a 1936 crucifix over the speaker’s chair in the National Assembly be removed. The act invokes the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This places the ban beyond the reach of an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
