The Charter affirming the values of State Secularism and religious neutrality and of equality between men and women (Bill 60) has been the subject of many debates since it was announced in the Fall by the PQ government. As public institutions, universities would be subject to the Charter’s provisions, including restrictions on employees’ liberty to wear religious symbols.
Our executive committee has deemed it urgent to react to this piece of legislation. Religious freedoms are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Bill 60 is a discriminatory effort that would have devastating effects on minority groups in Quebec, not to mention our own membership. We join our voice to several McGill organizations in denouncing it. The motion, as adopted during the January 15 executive council:
Be it resolved that while the executive of the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) supports the secular spirit of Bill 60, it strongly objects to the restrictions on the right to wear religious symbols, as described in the draft legislation, which runs contrary to AMURE’S mission and values.