Surrey stands against Quebec’s secularism law, Bill 21

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Surrey City Council has unanimously decided to publicly stand against Quebec’s secularism law, joining cities like Toronto, Edmonton, and Victoria in doing so.

A teacher impacted by the Bill says Bill 21 prevents her from working in Quebec.

Now calling Surrey home, Amrit Kaur is not able to teach in her home province because of her turban, a symbol of her Sikh faith.

“It’s ironic. The day that the bill passed I had just graduated,” she says. “When I came home I saw that essentially there was no future for me in Quebec. So I had to think about what to do next. The only viable option was to seek employment out of the province.”

With Council’s decision to denounce Bill 21 Kaur says it sends the message to many like her who are targeted because of their religious symbols.

“What brought me to British Columbia was that I saw there were so many people who look like myself, who were able to progress in their career and like their lives in peace,” she says. “It just brings so much peace of mind to know that people understand the grief that you’re being put in. I think it sends a very strong message that this is institutionalized racism and it has no place in Canada.”

Council will now write to the federal government, as well as Quebec’s provincial government outlining and concerns with the controversial Bill.

Bill 21 came into effect in June. It prohibits public servants deemed to be in positions of authority — including teachers, judges and police officers — from wearing religious symbols, such as turbans, kippas and hijabs.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today