CCLA Denounces Quebec’s Bill 94 as a Threat to Civil Liberties

Harini Sivalingam, Director of Equality Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) made the following statement in response to the passage of Quebec Bill 94 – An Act to reinforce laicity in the education network:

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association unequivocally condemns the adoption of Quebec’s Bill 94, a law that undermines the fundamental freedoms of students and school staff across the province.

Every student in Quebec deserves a learning environment that is safe, inclusive and respectful of individual rights. Bill 94 works against that goal by imposing sweeping restrictions that violate the Quebec and Canadian Charters, eroding the very principles of equality and freedom that should define our public institutions.

This legislation denies religious accommodations, prohibits visible prayer at school, and bans, among other things, the wearing of religious symbols by school staff. These measures will disproportionately harm women and girls, racialized communities, religious minorities, and newcomers – deepening existing systemic exclusion rather than addressing it.

By invoking the notwithstanding clause, the Quebec government has chosen to override constitutional protections for Quebec students and workers and silence dissent. Bill 94 is not a neutral policy – it is a deliberate attack on freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the right to equal treatment under the law.

CCLA stand firmly against this law and will continue to advocate for the rights and dignity of all Quebecers.