The Quebec\u00a0government is offering a first concession to critics of its\u00a0proposed law restricting religious symbols\u00a0worn by some civil servants.<\/p>\n
Tuesday afternoon, Immigration\u00a0Minister\u00a0Simon Jolin-Barrette tabled the\u00a0amendment which would define what a religious symbol is.<\/p>\n
The amendment seeks to define a religious symbol as\u00a0“any article of clothing, accessory, headgear or jewelry that is worn as a show of faith or religious conviction” and\u00a0“is reasonably considered as referring to a religious affiliation.”<\/p>\n
The bill has\u00a0been criticized for banning symbols without defining them, making enforcement complicated.<\/p>\n
Despite tabling of the amendment, Jolin-Barrette said\u00a0he doesn’t think it’s necessary to define what a religious symbol is.<\/p>\n
However, groups such as unions and\u00a0school board representatives called\u00a0for one.<\/p>\n
In May,\u00a0three UN legal experts\u00a0joined them by\u00a0sending a letter\u00a0to the Canadian mission in Geneva which said that the bill\u00a0threatens freedoms protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.<\/p>\n
The letter said that the bill doesn’t define what a religious symbol is, adding that it would be “extremely inappropriate” for a government to decide whether a symbol is religious or not.<\/p>\n
“I’m listening,” Jolin-Barrette said Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
“I take a step in their direction\u00a0\u2014\u00a0I hope they will take a step in my direction,” he said.<\/p>\n
The government wants the bill\u00a0passed by Friday, when the legislature is scheduled to break for the summer.<\/p>\n
However, Premier Fran\u00e7ois Legault said that it might be possible to recall MNAs for an extraordinary summer session in order to get the religious symbols bill passed.<\/p>\n