The latest efforts to strengthen state secularism, dubbed “secularism 2.0”, are part of a new bill introduced by the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) on Thursday, expanding on a 2019 religious symbols law that has fuelled fierce debate throughout the country.

The original law prevents judges, police officers, teachers and public servants from wearing symbols such as the kippah, turban or hijab while at work. The measures proposed in Bill 9 would:

• extend the ban on wearing religious symbols to staff in subsidised daycares
• bar “collective religious practices” like prayer in public spaces, such as parks, without prior authorisation from municipalities
• prevent students and staff from wearing face coverings in daycare all the way through to post-secondary education

Roberge said the limits on public prayer were in reaction to recent protests in the province, where there has been debate over groups praying at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.