Montreal’s largest school service centre loses more than 100 support staff due to new secularism law

Not surprising:

Montreal’s largest school board has lost more than 100 support staff because they refused to remove religious symbols to comply with the province’s new secularism law. 

The law, known as Bill 94, expanded a ban on wearing religious symbols, like crosses and hijabs, to include support staff workers in schools — lunchroom monitors and special education technicians, for example. 

Several school service centres told Radio-Canada in February that dozens of staff had already been fired, suspended or decided to resign because of Bill 94. 

Now, the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM)says it, too, has had to let staff go. 

A spokesperson for the CSSDM told Radio-Canada that the service centre had recently informed staff members that they were at risk of losing their jobs if they didn’t remove a religious symbol to comply with the new law. 

Many decided to comply with the law, according to the spokesperson — meaning that they agreed to remove a religious symbol. 

But approximately 150 did not….

Source: Montreal’s largest school service centre loses more than 100 support staff due to new secularism law

Unknown's avatarAbout Andrew
Andrew blogs and tweets public policy issues, particularly the relationship between the political and bureaucratic levels, citizenship and multiculturalism. His latest book, Policy Arrogance or Innocent Bias, recounts his experience as a senior public servant in this area.

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