Vaughan supports challenging Quebec’s Bill 21 that bars wearing religious symbols

'Quebec's controversial Bill 21 is a divisive and discriminatory law'

Thestar.com
Feb. 2, 2022
Dina Al-Shibeeb

The City of Vaughan is backing the legal challenge taking place against Quebec's Bill 21, at least "in principle".

The news comes after Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua had his motion ratified Jan. 28, by the city's councillors to lend support to the current legal challenge of the bill.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims, the World Sikh Organization, and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association are also involved in the battle against Bill 21.

The bill -- passed in June 2019 -- bans Canadians working in the public sector in Quebec from wearing religious symbols such as crosses, hijabs, turbans, and yarmulkes.

Some non-Quebec municipalities have supported the legal challenge financially. Vaughan's support is non-financial.

"Quebec's controversial Bill 21 is a divisive and discriminatory law," Bevilacqua said.

The mayor highlighted that Vaughan is diverse, its citizens speak up to 105 different languages, and nearly half of the population was born abroad.