Secularism law: Toronto will not appeal

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Toronto and others Canadian cities had contributed financially to a legal challenge to Quebec's law on state secularism. (Archive photo)

Radio-Canada

The City of Toronto confirms it will not appeal an Ontario Superior Court ruling regarding a municipal bylaw to pay $100,000 for a legal challenge to Quebec's law on state secularism.

Toronto joined others in 2021 Canadian cities to finance a challenge to Bill 21 in court.

This law prohibits certain public sector employees from wearing religious symbols while performing their duties.

Louis Labrecque, a resident of Toronto, s& #x27;was opposed to his city's financial contribution. He was supported, in particular, by the Quebec historian Frédéric Bastien.

The Ontario Superior Court ruled in their favor last summer. There is no suggestion that Bill 21 has an impact on the ability of Torontonians to live together, the court ruled, rejecting the municipal bylaw passed to help fund the legal challenge.

Toronto city council ruled out an appeal of the ruling at its October meeting, but details of the decision are confidential.

The Droits collectives Québec organization is “delighted” by the fact that there will be no appeal.

I dare to hope that after having paid for great publicity at the expense of their taxpayers, the municipal councils concerned will recognize their wrongdoing and will initiate the necessary procedures so that the protesting organizations, if they have actually received sums from these cities, reimburse them, says Daniel Turp, the president of the organization, in a press release.

For his part, the Quebec Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, reaffirms that it is up to Quebecers to define the model of living -set that suits them.

Law 21 on state secularism reflects this choice, a completely legitimate choice, in line with history and the distinct social values ​​of the Quebec nation, writes the minister in a brief statement.