FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2022
CCLA REACTS TO ACS-LÉGER STUDY ON EFFECTS OF BILL 21
TORONTO — Gillian Moore, Equality Program Director for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, made the following statement:
Today, the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) released the largest study of minority religious communities affected by Bill 21 – a law that bans religious symbols for certain public sector workers in Quebec, to date. The results are staggering, but unsurprising.
Under the guise of advancing neutrality, social harmony and equality, Bill 21 disproportionately harms Muslim women – along with Sikhs, Jews, and members of other minority religions. This othering is focused on individuals many, if not most, of whom are racialized and come from immigrant communities. Since the passage of Bill 21, members of these communities report decreased levels of safety in public places, diminished ability to participate in social and political life, and reduced freedom of expression. Many respondents reported facing physical danger, and even death.
The results of the survey also underscore the need for the courts to weigh in; they affirm the importance of the checks and balances that the courts provide in ensuring that fundamental rights and freedoms are respected. This is why the CCLA is fighting Bill 21 in court, arguing that it is unconstitutional and that it should be struck down. We are challenging Bill 21 because it is discriminatory the basis of sex and religion, and has a disproportionate impact on people from minority racial, religious and immigrant communities.
The Quebec Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear our arguments this fall.
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About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
Media Contact:
media@ccla.org
Alex Nanoff – 613.709.6318
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
