Religion is a historically sensitive topic in Quebec.
The province is dotted with old Catholic churches—a relic of a time when public institutions like schools and hospitals were under full control of the clergy. That era ended with the Quiet Revolution in 1960, when Quebecers purged the church from those institutions in favour of secularism.
Tensions over religion shifted as Quebec in recent decades welcomed more newcomers, and the province began discussing whether it should pass similar laws to France, which banned public school students from wearing religious attire in 2004.
In 2008, a provincial commission on accommodating religious minorities recommended a form of “open secularism” where religious symbols could not be worn by people in public positions of authority. That became the backbone of Bill 21.
These debates unfolded alongside broader concerns about preserving Quebec’s French identity, said Elizabeth Elbourne, a historian at McGill University. At the heart of the discussion, she said, is whether Quebec sees itself “as a multicultural society” or one that is more “assimilationist”.
The Quebec government, still under the helm of Premier Legault, is now seeking to expand its secularism laws to include all staff at public schools, not just teachers and principals, and to daycare centres. It also wants to ban prayer in public spaces.
The law includes an exemption to those who were working before it was proposed, like Robicheau.
But dozens of other Montreal school staff hired more recently have been fired or suspended, according to union leaders. Those who are currently exempt could risk losing their jobs if they seek to change roles or pursue promotions.
All these measures have been controversial, but polls indicate a majority of Quebecers support them.
One recent survey conducted by Canadian French-language newspaper La Presse, external suggests that 61% in Quebec favour a ban on public prayer, and 56% favour a ban on religious attire in daycares.
Among the supporters is David Rand, president of a Montreal-based atheist group, who said he believes the bulk of opposition to Bill 21 is coming from outside Quebec.
He believes “religious convictions are no more sacred or untouchable than political convictions”, and that public displays of both should be cast aside by those working for the state.
Rand predicted a Supreme Court ruling that would force Quebec to scrap its secularism laws would be met with “massive protest” in the province.
The law has been upheld by lower Quebec courts, who ruled that it is valid because the province invoked the “notwithstanding clause” to pass it — a built-in loophole in the Canadian constitution that allows provinces and the federal government to override certain charter rights, including freedom of religion and equality rights.
The makes the case bigger than Bill 21, and the Supreme Court must now weigh the notwithstanding clause itself, which has shielded the law in lower courts, and whether it should be limited.
However the court rules, Hasan from York University said she worries Bill 21 will continue to put a target on visible minorities, particularly Muslim women.
After years of living under the law, Robicheau said she and others have lost faith in Quebec. But she still hopes the Supreme Court will set a national precedent “that there are certain rights that are untouchable”.
With additional reporting by Eloise Alanna.