Did Quebec Act on the Commission's Recommendations?

[rameen_ali]

The Bouchard-Taylor Commission was meant to help Quebec balance religious accommodation with its secular values. However, some of the laws passed after the Commission, like Bill 21, didn’t follow its suggestions. Bill 21 bans public employees from wearing religious symbols, such as the hijab and turban, which directly goes against the Commission’s advice to avoid laws that target religious minorities (Mahrouse, 4). Instead of promoting inclusion, these laws seem to divide people, affecting Muslims, Sikhs, and others (Mahrouse, 8).
The Commission also warned against putting secularism above religious freedom, but many of the post-Commission laws do just that. These laws often focus on secularism without considering how they affect the rights of religious minorities. This has left groups like Muslims and Sikhs feeling marginalized (Mahrouse, 6). The legislation doesn’t seem to reflect the balanced approach the Commission recommended.
Quebec’s unique identity as both a minority in Canada and a majority in the province also complicates the situation. The laws passed after the Commission don’t fully consider this complexity. Instead, they often prioritize one version of Quebec’s identity over the diversity within it, making it harder for religious minorities to feel accepted (Mahrouse, 10). So, in many ways, the laws after the Commission have not reflected its findings and have deepened divisions.