Consultations Begin on Controversial Quebec Bill 9 on Secularism

The Quebec government has launched public consultations on Bill 9, a contentious piece of legislation that would expand the province’s secularism framework and tighten restrictions on religious expression and practice, marking a new phase in its review and debate.

Bill 9 — formally titled An Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Québec and tabled by the government in late 2025 — seeks to build on existing laws governing secularism by broadening the scope of restrictions on religious symbols, public prayer, accommodation practices and how religion is manifested in public and institutional spaces.

Under the legislation, the government would use the notwithstanding clause in Quebec’s legislative powers to protect certain parts of the bill from constitutional challenge, a move that critics say undermines civil liberties and the rights of religious and minority groups.

Consultations set to begin this week are expected to stretch into the new year, allowing members of the public, civil society organisations and experts to present their views to committees or submit written briefs. More than 200 individuals and groups have been invited or are anticipated to participate, although some critics — including coalitions of Quebec civil liberties and human rights advocates — have said the bill should be withdrawn entirely rather than debated.

Opponents argue that Bill 9 could erode fundamental freedoms by restricting how Quebecers express religious beliefs, banning religious expression in some public spaces and applying bans on religious symbols to new sectors such as subsidised daycare and private schools. Supporters of the bill say it will solidify secularism as a defining feature of Quebec society and help maintain neutrality in public institutions.

The consultations represent a pivotal moment in the bill’s progression, offering a platform for diverse voices and potentially shaping amendments before the legislature ultimately votes on the final text. Members of the public will also have opportunities to offer feedback through hearings and submissions as the debate over Quebec’s secularism laws continues to unfold.