DISE Releases Statement on Bill 21

Statement on Bill 21, ​An Act respecting the laicity of the State (Loi sur la laïcité de l’État​), from ​the Department of Integrated Studies in Education and the Internships and Student Affairs Office in the Faculty of Education at McGill University​ ​adopted on April 18, 2019

The Department of Integrated Studies in Education and the Internships and Student Affairs Office at McGill University condemn and reject Bill 21, ​An Act respecting the laicity of the State​. This proposed bill is discriminatory, racist, and counter to our values as a teaching and research department. ​We denounce this bill for systematically targeting and discriminating against specific racialized and religious groups within Québec society. If implemented, Bill 21 will not only have a direct impact on communities that wear religious symbols, but will further a climate of suspicion, fear, hostility, and racism towards people who wear religious symbols. As such, it would limit possibilities for significant segments of the Québec population to participate in the public life of Québec, and jeopardize the futures of large numbers of Québec students.

Please click on the link to read the entire Statement.