{"id":38918,"date":"2026-03-30T12:10:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T16:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?p=38918"},"modified":"2026-04-08T10:13:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:13:12","slug":"quebecs-bill-9-what-does-secularism-look-like-for-religious-organizations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/legal\/2026\/03\/30\/quebecs-bill-9-what-does-secularism-look-like-for-religious-organizations\/","title":{"rendered":"Quebec’s Bill 9 – What Does Secularism Look Like For Religious Organizations?"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Quebec Bill 9<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

UPDATE (APRIL 8, 2026) \u2013 Bill 9 BECOMES LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 2, 2026, Bill 9<\/a> became law after receiving royal assent<\/a>. Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s National Assembly (\u201cAssembly\u201d) approved Bill 9 with 76 votes in favour and 28 against.<\/a> This follows the Assembly\u2019s vote and adoption of the Report<\/a> on Bill 9 on March 31, 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his final remarks, Quebec\u2019s Minister Responsible for Secularism explained<\/a> how the new law will affect people living in Quebec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Religious practice will end in our public institutions. Our public institutions are not places of worship. In line with this, prayer rooms in \u2026 universities will also be eliminated. People can leave the institutions to go home or to places of worship, but our \u2026 universities are not places of worship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[\u2026]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are providing a secular environment for our children because, from now on, the principles of secularism will apply in our childcare centres, in subsidized private schools, and within the Youth Protection Services (DPJ). We are clarifying\u2014and this is obvious, but it had to be done, the law had to be passed\u2014that throughout their educational journey, everything must be done openly, both for those who interact with our young people and for the young people themselves, because it’s a matter of respect. It’s a matter of communication, a matter of living in society, and it’s to facilitate learning. We are clarifying that, in our public institutions, there cannot be only one religious menu imposed on everyone. This is obvious, but it’s not the current situation, and legislation is needed to change that.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Bill 9 goes further than previous secularization laws. It impacts not only individual religious freedom, but also organizations, such as private religious schools, and public religious gatherings (for full details, see our original post, below). Religious and secular organizations<\/a> are deeply concerned about the Bill’s impact on fundamental rights and freedoms. While the fallout and enforcement of Bill 9 remain to be seen, it could prompt legal challenges, and CCCC will continue to look for ways to engage and support the protection of religious freedom in Quebec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re Here to Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have questions or would like support, please contact our Member Support Team<\/a> by phone or email<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ORIGINAL POST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is happening with Bill 9?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On March 17, 2026, Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Chair of the Committee on Citizen Relations (\u201cCommittee\u201d) tabled the report<\/a> (\u201cReport\u201d) on Bill 9, An Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Qu\u00e9bec<\/em>, 2nd Sess., 43rd Leg, 2025<\/a> (\u201cBill 9\u201d) in Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s National Assembly (\u201cAssembly\u201d). The Committee made several amendments<\/a>, but many of the proposed restrictions on religious freedoms remain. CCCC maintains<\/a> that, if passed, Bill 9 could significantly limit how individuals and organizations express their faith in Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Bill 9?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bill 9 aims to reinforce secularism, also known as \u201claicity\u201d, across a wide range of publicly funded settings. Bill 9 expands upon Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s ban on religious symbols<\/a> and prohibits all religious practice in select post-secondary institutions, childcare centers, healthcare facilities, and private schools. \u201cReligious practice\u201d is defined as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[a]ny action, except the wearing of a religious symbol, that may reasonably constitute, in fact or in appearance, the manifestation of a religious conviction or belief.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The example of \u201covert prayers or other similar practices\u201d is provided to further contextualize the term \u201creligious practice\u201d in Bill 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schools and Educational Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In private schools, Bill 9 would prohibit religious practices during regular school hours. Schools could still allow religious activities outside school hours, but only if participation is optional. Bill 9 would not apply to religious practices that take place in private residences within these institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this means for private Christian schools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Private religious schools could continue to operate, but as noted by Christian Legal Fellowship<\/a> (\u201cCLF\u201d), they may face limits on accreditation and access to funding. To maintain faith-based activities, including religious instruction or worship, schools may need to move these activities outside regular school hours and make them optional. Bill 9 offers little practical guidance on how schools should express their religious identity in policies, curriculum, or community life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Spaces and Places of Worship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bill 9 protects religious practices within places of worship and prohibits interference with access to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, organizations that want to hold religious gatherings in public spaces, such as parks or streets, would need municipal approval. It remains unclear how municipalities would assess and grant these requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this means for churches and religious gatherings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Churches may face new limits on where they can gather. For example, a church that wants to hold a service in a public park would need to apply for municipal approval. It is unclear how municipalities would regulate these requests or impose limitations on group gatherings in public spaces. During public hearings on Bill 9, Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Minister Responsible for Secularism indicated that some activities, such as funeral processions or collecting donations for charitable purposes<\/a>, would still be permitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Religious Accommodation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People requesting religious accommodation would need to show that their request is sincere, reasonable, and consistent with equality rights. If the request involves time away from work, employers would consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. how often the absence occurs;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. how long it lasts;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. the impact on job performance; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. fairness to other employees<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    When accommodation requests involve children in childcare settings, providers must ensure they do not affect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. the quality of the educational childcare services;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. the educational program; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. the health, safety and well-being of the children<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Bill 9 is broad in scope. As the Canadian Civil Liberties Association has noted, \u201cthis sweeping piece of legislation almost completely prohibits collective religious practice in public<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What changed in the Committee\u2019s Report on Bill 9?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The Committee\u2019s Report<\/a> (currently only available in French) introduces several amendments. These changes clarify certain provisions but do not significantly reduce the overall impact of Bill 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Key updates include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n