Quebec City: The government of Quebec is set to intensify its secularism laws with the introduction of Bill 9, which bans public prayer in institutions and on public property. Critics argue the legislation disproportionately affects religious minorities, particularly Muslims, and infringes on fundamental freedoms.
Bill 9, proposed by the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), prohibits communal prayers in public institutions such as colleges and universities, as well as on streets, parks, and other public spaces. Violations could incur fines of up to C$1,125. Small public events with prior approval are exempt from the ban.
The bill builds on the province’s earlier secularism legislation, including Bill 21, passed in 2019, which barred certain public sector employees from wearing religious symbols at work. The CAQ plans to extend similar restrictions to employees and students in daycares, colleges, universities, and private schools. Full face coverings would be prohibited for anyone in those institutions.
Quebec’s Minister of Secularism, Jean-François Roberge, defended the new law as a step toward full secularization. He criticized previous accommodations in post-secondary institutions, including prayer rooms, stating that schools are not meant to function as places of worship. Roberge cited recent protests organized by Montreal4Palestine, which included public prayers outside the Notre-Dame Basilica, as examples of misuse of public spaces.
Aujourd’hui, en déposant le projet de loi 9, on franchit une étape importante pour renforcer la laïcité au Québec.
Six ans après l’adoption de la Loi 21, le message des Québécois est clair : il faut aller plus loin. La laïcité fait partie de notre identité collective. Nous ne… pic.twitter.com/92azjiKQbx
— Jean-F. Roberge (@jfrobergeQc) November 27, 2025
The bill also seeks to limit the provision of kosher and halal meals in public institutions. Roberge insisted the law applies equally to all, saying the measures aim to maintain state neutrality.
However, the legislation has drawn strong criticism from religious communities and advocacy groups. Muslim students described the rules as a personal attack, with Ines Rarrbo, a first-year engineering student, saying the law makes her community feel unwelcome. Stephen Brown, president of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, called the move political opportunism aimed at deepening division.
The Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops also condemned the proposed bill, calling it a radical infringement on the rights and freedoms of Quebec residents. Critics argue that the law conflicts with both Quebec’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Like Bill 21, Bill 9 invokes Canada’s ‘notwithstanding clause,’ allowing it to override certain constitutional protections and shielding it from legal challenges. The Supreme Court of Canada is expected to hear a challenge regarding the clause in the coming months.
