The Green Party of Quebec is drawing a clear line in the sand on secularism and civil liberties, vowing to overturn Bill 21 and opposing the CAQ government’s expanding slate of so-called “laïcité” measures. During a wide-ranging episode of Mentalité verte, party leader Alex Tyrrell and deputy leader Halimatou Bah argued that Quebec’s secularism laws have moved far beyond state neutrality and now amount to an aggressive restriction on individual rights.
Bill 21, which bans many public-sector workers from wearing religious symbols, was never meant to be the final step, Tyrrell said. Instead, it has opened the door to an escalating series of measures targeting religious expression — from street prayers to prayer rooms in schools and universities.
“La laïcité de l’État ne veut pas dire neutraliser les citoyens.”
— Halimatou Bah
Both Greens stressed that secularism was originally intended to ensure the neutrality of government institutions, not to police how people dress, pray, or express their beliefs in public spaces. They argue the CAQ has deliberately blurred this distinction to justify increasingly intrusive laws.
A manufactured problem
A central theme of the discussion was the government’s fixation on so-called “prières de rue.” Tyrrell pointed out that such prayers are rare, brief, and overwhelmingly contextual — most often occurring during large demonstrations, including pro-Palestinian protests.
“On nous fait croire que les prières de rue sont partout, alors que le problème n’existe tout simplement pas.”
— Alex Tyrrell
Bah, who has lived in Quebec for over a decade, said she had never witnessed spontaneous street prayers outside these specific contexts. Framing these isolated moments as a threat to social cohesion, she argued, is a political choice — not a response to a genuine public concern.
Nowhere left to pray
By banning prayer in public spaces while also eliminating prayer rooms in educational institutions, the CAQ is effectively leaving religious minorities with no acceptable place to practice their faith, the Greens argued. Prayer rooms, Bah noted, often serve as community spaces as much as religious ones and do not interfere with anyone else’s rights.
“Pourquoi la prière dérange, mais pas le yoga, la méditation ou la danse dans l’espace public?”
— Halimatou Bah
For the Greens, this contradiction exposes the true nature of the government’s approach: not neutrality, but selective repression aimed at visible religious minorities.
Impact on public services
The discussion also focused on the practical consequences of Bill 21 and its proposed expansions. Bah drew on her own experience in the CPE system, where she said children are entirely unbothered by whether educators wear hijabs or other religious symbols.
“Les enfants ne voient pas ces différences. Ce sont les adultes qui projettent leurs peurs.”
— Halimatou Bah
Tyrrell warned that extending Bill 21 into childcare, education, and health care would deepen staffing shortages at a time when Quebec can least afford it. He cited the ongoing lack of teachers, educators, and health-care workers as evidence that ideological purity tests are undermining essential public services.
A climate of fear and division
Both speakers tied Bill 21 to a broader political climate that stigmatizes immigrants and racialized communities. Tyrrell accused Premier François Legault of deliberately exploiting fears around immigration and cultural change to consolidate political support, particularly outside Montréal.
“Le gouvernement cherche à faire peur aux gens pour en tirer un profit politique.”
— Alex Tyrrell
Bah emphasized that these debates have real-world consequences. She described how women wearing religious symbols increasingly fear harassment in public, and how repeated political messaging can erode trust in institutions meant to protect everyone.
A rare clear commitment
Tyrrell contrasted the Green Party’s position with that of other parties at the National Assembly. While Québec solidaire and the Parti libéral have criticized Bill 21, neither has committed to fully repealing it. The Green Party of Quebec, he said, is the only party promising outright reversal.
“Nous sommes le seul parti qui dit clairement qu’on va renverser la loi 21.”
— Alex Tyrrell
For the Greens, defending freedom of religion and expression is not a wedge issue but a core democratic principle. They reject the idea that social peace requires sacrificing minority rights.
A different vision of Quebec
Bah concluded by rejecting the notion that Quebec values are fixed, fragile, or incompatible with diversity. Values, she said, evolve — and inclusion, dignity, and solidarity should be at their core.
“Tout le monde veut simplement vivre en paix, se loger, manger à sa faim et être soi-même.”
— Halimatou Bah
As the CAQ continues to expand its secularism agenda, the Green Party of Quebec is positioning itself as the most uncompromising defender of civil liberties in the province — openly challenging Bill 21 and the politics of fear surrounding it.
