Senate passes Quebec schools’ amendment
Does the Quebec legislation threaten religious education rights?
By Art Babych • Special to ChristianWeek
OTTAWA–Senate stalling threatened to throw a wrench into the federal government’s plan to fast-track the controversial Quebec constitutional amendment through Parliament before Christmas, but the controversial legislation was passed 51-17 on December 15.
Approved in the House of Commons in November by a vote of 204-59, the bill allows the Quebec government to replace religious school boards with a language-based education system.
Many had expected the bill to pass easily, but procedural wrangling and stalling tactics in the upper chamber held up its passage. The filibustering prompted Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stephane Dion to make an appearance in the Senate December 11 to urge approval of the bill.
The legislation received royal assent December 19. If it had not been given before the end of the year, the Quebec government’s planned changes to the school system could have been held up for another year, the Justice Department indicated.
Some observers maintained the Senate stalling was a bid to convince the government to make changes to C-2, the Canada Pension Plan legislation that would increase CPP premiums as of January 1. That too has passed.
But more relevant objections were raised as well. Conservative Senator John Lynch-Staunton of Montreal, for example, argued that the legislation would "open the door to the eventual elimination of all religious courses being taught in the schools of Quebec."
Dion, however, noted that Catholics form the majority in Quebec and said they "will be able to make their point clearly" if they want denominational schools in place.
