Quebec passes motion against Ottawa’s directive allowing knives on planes

Quebec’s legislature has passed a motion against Transport Canada’s directive allowing airline passengers to carry small blades, including kirpans.

READ MORE: 7 in 10 Canadians would be A-OK with voting for a party led by a Sikh

The motion tabled Wednesday by the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) will be sent to federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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Transport Canada recently announced that knife blades up to six centimetres will be allowed on domestic and most international flights, beginning Nov. 27.

Quebec Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux says his government, in voting for the motion, was not motivated by religious discrimination but rather by concerns about security.

READ MORE: Rest of Canada decries Quebec’s charter, but opposes some religious symbols

Amir Khadir, one of three members of Quebec Solidaire who abstained on the motion, says the legislature was using members of the Sikh community as a scapegoat because some of them carry the kirpan.

READ MORE: Alberta brings in policy to allow Sikhs to wear kirpan religious knives in court

Blades of any length will continue to be banned on flights to the United States, while razor blades and box cutters of any size will remain prohibited on all flights.