Montrealers take to the streets to protest Quebec’s proposed religious symbols ban

Bill 21 would ban some public employees from wearing symbols of their faith

Thousands of people gathered in downtown Montreal on Sunday to protest Quebec’s proposed Bill 21. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)

Thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Montreal on Sunday afternoon to protest the Quebec government’s Bill 21 — proposed legislation that would ban some public employees from wearing symbols of their faith.

“Quebec is not France, long live the difference!” protesters chanted in French while clapping their hands and cheering.

Protesters gathered next to the Berri-UQAM Metro station before marching down René-Lévesque Boulevard.

People hold up signs as they march during a demonstration in Montreal, Sunday, in opposition to the Quebec government’s newly tabled Bill 21. – Graham Hughes , The Canadian Press

Sunday’s protest is the latest of several events organized since the bill was tabled in late March. Many community and political groups have voiced opposition to the bill, saying it will reduce religious freedoms in the province. MORE

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The Charter’s challenges

Signing the Constitution in 1982: a national mission statement  (RON BULL / TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO)

But for the vast majority of Canadians, the Charter has become a symbol of national identity, taking its place alongside the Maple Leaf, hockey and snow. In poll after poll, most embrace the Charter as a kind of national mission statement, asserting the country’s commitment to tolerance, fairness and equality.

And since that drizzly ceremony on April 17, 1982, when the Charter was entrenched in Canada’s newly patriated Constitution, hundreds of cases have gone to the Supreme Court of Canada to determine how far the country will go on abortion, same-sex marriage, the death penalty, private health care, police powers, Sunday shopping and freedom of speech.

A quarter-century later, the Charter is at a crossroads. While there may be much to celebrate, the process of using it to establish rights is time-consuming and expensive, almost entirely dependent on government subsidies and the benevolence of lawyers to bankroll cases, sometimes costing millions of dollars.

Without some way of subsidizing the litigation, average Canadians stand no chance of bringing a Charter claim. These cases cost millions of dollars. Millions – because governments fight them tooth and nail. Forget about legal aid. In most cases, you’re not going to get it

Restrictions on legal aid and a decision last fall by the Conservative government to kill the Court Challenges Program, which helped fund individuals and citizen groups fighting for constitutional protections, have made the Charter more inaccessible than ever. MORE

The Charter under assault

Does the current political climate signal the death knell for Charter rights?

Sebastien Thibault

In the weeks after the federal government and all the provinces except Quebec agreed on the terms for a Charter of Rights and Freedoms, many of the stories that were published in major media outlets were less than positive about this significant addition to the Constitution.

The Charter was frequently described as “controversial” in news stories. As well, there were warnings about public safety. A story by the Canadian Press news agency that ran in December 1981 had the headline, “Charter: Criminal’s friend: Mountie.”

A spokesman for “rank-and-file” RCMP officers stated that the Charter would give too much power to the judiciary. “No matter how eminent or learned the appointees of the court may be, the fact remains they are not accountable to the people for their actions,” the spokesman said. “Canadians will no longer be able to assume their streets will remain safe.”

For the most part, the streets have continued to be safe in Canada. What has not declined, however, is skepticism and blame directed at the Charter by politicians, media and various interest groups. Whether it involves the criminal justice system or any other aspect that impacts Canadian society, unaccountable judges is a talking point that is still frequently invoked, nearly 37 years after the Charter came into force in April 1982. MORE