Montreal mayor says secularism bill targets minorities and violates freedoms

May 14, 2019 | 2:20 PM

QUEBEC — The mayor of Quebec’s largest city says the provincial government’s secularism bill is causing tension in society.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante told a legislature committee today that the city supports the government’s desire to enshrine into law the secular nature of the state. But she says Montreal has many problems with the government’s approach.

The Coalition Avenir Quebec government’s Bill 21 would prohibit public sector workers in positions of authority, including teachers and police officers, from wearing religious symbols on the job.