Not all religions treated as equals in Quebec schools

The Quebec government is being urged to stop using the notwithstanding clause as a means to keep a secular school system.

The Superior Council on Education says the current system must be changed because it favours Christian religious teaching at the expense of others.

• OFFICIAL DOCUMENT - Conseil suprieur de l'ducation (French document)

"We think that the moment has come to change the system actually, because we think that there is a large consensus among the Quebecers to respect fully the principle of equality of all citizens concerning the schools," says Jean-Pierre Proulx, who heads the council.

Quebec has been moving away from a religious school system for decades, and at every stage, a privileged position has been reserved for the province's Protestants and Catholics.

For example, parents can choose to have their children receive religious instruction at a public school, but only Christian instruction is available.

Because of that privilege, provincial governments have needed to invoke the notwithstanding clause to pass new laws on education in Quebec.

Proulx's recommendations still include religious instruction, but specify that it should be non-denominational.

The council wants the government to design a system of ethical instruction to make sure the education system's ability to socialize students is protected.

The council makes recommendations to the government, but has no power beyond that. Proulx says he expects the provincial Liberals to react to the recommendations within a few weeks.

Background

In 2000, the provincial government wiped out religion-based school boards and replaced them with linguistic boards.

At the same time, it invoked the notwithstanding clause to permit existing schools that receive public funds to retain some of their religious character.

• FROM OCT. 28, 2004 - Parents push for religion in classroom

Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the clause must be renewed every five years.

In June, the term of the notwithstanding clause will expire. Premier Jean Charest will have to decide what place Catholic and Protestant religions have in the classroom.

• CBC ARCHIVES - Religion in the Classroom

Gradual integration

The transformation from a religion-based system to a linguistic system has been a gradual one in Quebec.

Since the mid-1990s, students from different ethnic communities have become part of the French school system.

In 1997, a constitutional amendment officially abolished the Catholic and Protestant school systems and created English and French public school boards.