Canadian Jewish group: Religious symbols ban meant to drum up support for Quebecois secession

[rug]

Quebec’s Jewish General Hospital indicates that it plans on ignoring the “prejudicial bill.”

By SAM SOKOL
11/24/2013, 20:13

A controversial bill curtailing religious freedoms that has Canadian Jews up in arms is only meant to drum up support for Quebec independence, the Canadian Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

The government backers of a bill that would ban the wearing of “conspicuous religious symbols” by public sector workers in Quebec “do not wish to have the legislation adopted in this legislative session,” David Ouellette, the Jewish umbrella group’s director for Public Affairs in Quebec wrote in an email exchange with the Post.

Ouellette stated that he believes that the “minority government’s calculus is to use the proposed legislation in the next elections as a wedge issue, hoping it can rekindle nationalist sentiment and move into majority territory.”

The ban, which is part of a proposed Charter of Quebec Values being pushed by the separatist Parti Québécois, would essentially redefine the meaning of state secularism and has alienated local religious minorities, including Muslims Sikhs and Jews. The party has called for a revision of the province’s charter of rights and freedoms.

http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Canadian-Jewish-group-Religious-symbols-ban-meant-to-drum-up-support-for-Quebecois-secession-332870