PQ says majority government is only path to secular charter

The Parti Qubcoissays voters will need to elect a PQmajority government if they want the secular valuescharter to pass.

• Quebec Votes 2014

Bernard Drainville, the PQ's candidate forMarie-Victorin, was in Montreal this morning to highlight his party's secular legislation, which would ban public sector workers from wearing overt religious symbols such as the hijab, kippa and
ostentatious crucifixes.

"Everywhere people are saying to me, 'Mr. Drainville, are you going to give us our charter?,' Drainville said on Wednesday.

''If we want to affirm equality between men and women, if we want clear rules for religious accommodation, if we want to affirm that our state is neutral when it comes to religion, then we need a Parti Qubcoisgovernment, because all the other parties oppose the charter."

The announcement comes halfway through the third week of the election campaign. It's left some speculating that hisparty is tryingto shift the focus away from its controversial sovereignty agenda, which dominated the headlines last week.

But on Wednesday, Drainville said today's news conference has been onthe schedule since the early days of the campaign.

Other parties offer compromises to Bill 60

Liberal Leader Philippe Couillardhas said he would support a softened version of the bill,that only bansthe chador, niqab and burqa for women who work in the public sector.

• Philippe Couillard releases Liberals' secular charter position

In September, the CoalitionAvenirQubecproposed a compromised version of the charter, which would ban overtreligious symbols for police, judges and figures of authority, as well as teachers, but allow an exemption forhealthcare and daycare workers.

• CAQ proposes values charter compromise

Qubec Solidaire also introduced its own version of a secular charter Bill 398 in the fall. It's version of the charter would limit the ban on overt religious symbols to individuals inpositions of power and authority with thestate.

• Qubec Solidaire proposes 'unifying' secular charter

'A vote for thePartiQubcoisis a vote for the charter' (in French)