QUEBEC CITY – Another high profile Quebec politician is speaking out about the Quebec Charter of Values. Like Jacques Parizeau, Lucien Bouchard and Bernard Landry before him, Gilles Duceppe said the proposed secularism legislation goes too far.
“What we propose is that judges, policemen and those representing authority and also the state should not wear anything,” he said.
Duceppe is the fourth former sovereignist leader to criticize Bill 60.
He told Global News only civil servants in positions of authority should be banned from wearing overt religious symbols. Teachers, daycare, hospital and office workers should be spared.
“When you have an important debate like that, there is a lot of emotion. If we refuse to have a debate because there’s emotion we won’t do anything,” Duceppe said.
WATCH: Extended interview: Gilles Duceppe on Charter
The former Bloc Québécois leader applauded the PQ’s “bravery” for starting the discussion.
He asked that Quebec stop financing religious schools and suggested daycare permits only be awarded to those who promise to uncover their face.
Moreover, he said he wouldn’t hesitate to use the notwithstanding clause to ban public authority figures from wearing religious symbols.
To the Liberals, it’s clear the foursome is sending a strong message to the Premier.
“The way they just analyze that and all together arriving almost at the same point, it’s very interesting and I think Mrs. Marois and Mr. Drainville should talk with them a little bit more to try to understand the values of all Quebecers,” said Liberal MNA Robert Poëti.
The PQ, on the other hand, argued Parizeau, Bouchard, Landry and Duceppe are citizens like any other.
“Mr. Duceppe is entitled to his opinion of course like everybody else and like Mr. Drainville keeps repeating we are, of course, open to hearing what everybody has to say,” concluded Social Services Minister Véronique Hivon.
Hearings into Bill 60 begin on January 14, 2014.
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