Overview
- Bill 9, introduced on Nov. 27, invokes the notwithstanding clause to limit Charter challenges to expanded secularism rules.
- Prayer rooms and organized religious activities in public institutions would be prohibited, with colleges and universities required to close such spaces by September 2026; residential institutions like prisons and long-term care are exempt.
- The legislation bans collective public prayer on roads and in parks unless municipally authorized, with fines up to $375 for individuals and $1,125 for groups.
- Public institutions would be barred from offering menus exclusively based on a religious tradition, with officials citing facilities such as Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital as needing non-religious options alongside kosher offerings.
- The bill extends religious-symbol and full face-covering bans to staff and students in daycares, CEGEPs, universities and private schools, and curtails funding for private religious schools that teach religion during class or select on religious grounds, with a three-year transition; student groups say the measures target their communities.