Canadian Constitution Foundation condemns Quebec's planned ban on public prayer

QUEBEC CITY: The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) condemns the Quebec government's announcement of planned legislation banning public prayer. On August 28, 2025, Quebec secularism minister Jean-François Roberge announced that in the fall the government will introduce legislation to ban street prayer. The government has not announced whether or not this legislation will involve the use of section 33 of the Charter, the notwithstanding clause.

"The CCF believes this legislation to be an assault on the constitutionally protected right to freedom of religion," said CCF Litigation Director Christine Van Geyn. "We view this as overreach that will impact religious communities across Quebec and deserves careful scrutiny.

Secularism does not require hostility to people of faith, and that is what this proposed law represents."

The Quebec government's action is in response to regular protests in support of Palestine which involve Muslim prayer that blockades streets and sidewalks.

"It is understandable that Quebec wants to stop Islamists from organizing prayers that block streets, but banning all public prayer in Quebec violates the very freedoms that make Canada better than a theocracy. Enforce existing laws against blockades and ticket those who block traffic and violate noise bylaws, don't attack all people of faith," said CCF Counsel Josh Dehaas.

The CCF has been involved in several high profile disputes over freedom of religion, including in Quebec. The CCF is an intervener in the Supreme Court appeal of Hak v Quebec, a challenge to the province's Bill 21 secularism law, and an intervener in the legal challenge to Quebec's ban on prayer in schools by Quebec students brought by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

For further information, contact:
Joanna Baron, Executive Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
1-888-695-9105 x. 101
jbaron@theccf.ca

Christine Van Geyn, Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
1-888-695-9105 x. 103
cvangeyn@theccf.ca

Josh Dehaas, Counsel, Canadian Constitution Foundation
1-888-695-9105 x. 104
jdehaas@theccf.ca

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