Laval, March 30, 2026 — Following the conclusion of parliamentary proceedings on Bill 9, aimed at reinforcing state secularism, Quebec’s Catholic bishops note that the recommendations they put forward — to better account for the realities of faith communities in the legislation — were not taken up by the government. Under these circumstances, the bishops are calling for the withdrawal of Bill 9 and are inviting all Quebecers to sign a petition to that effect on the Assemblée nationale website.
From the moment Bill 9 was tabled, the bishops voiced their concerns regarding measures that restrict fundamental rights without compelling justification. They submitted a brief containing nine recommendations and welcomed the invitation to participate in public hearings on February 4. It is with regret that they note none of their recommendations resulted in an amendment.
“We actively participated in the consultation process to advance an inclusive approach to secularism, lived in collaboration with faith communities. We remain convinced that, despite the amendments made to the bill, people of faith will see their fundamental rights restricted without compelling justification,” said Bishop Martin Laliberté, President of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec.
The bishops maintain that state secularism is already sufficiently protected and that existing legislation is more than adequate to govern religious practices in the public sphere.
The petition is available online: https://www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/exprimez-votre-opinion/petition/Petition-11947/index.html
Source: https://evequescatholiques.quebec/
*This article is an English translation of the original French text from the AECQ