Invoice 21 is Quebec situation, O’Toole says as a few of his MPs take harder stand – Nationwide

Conservative Chief Erin O’Toole says a Quebec regulation prohibiting some public servants from sporting non secular symbols on the job is a matter to be handled by that province alone.

A few of his MPs, nonetheless, seem like taking a harder stand.

O’Toole mentioned the Quebec secularism regulation, often called Invoice 21, on Thursday, in response to a report {that a} trainer in western Quebec was reassigned from the classroom as a result of she wore a hijab.

Invoice 21 was handed in June 2019 and bans the sporting of non secular symbols comparable to hijabs, kippas and turbans by lecturers and different authorities workers deemed to be in positions of authority.

The Conservative chief says whereas he personally opposes the regulation and has raised it with Quebec Premier Francois Legault, he respects provincial jurisdiction and believes it to be “a difficulty that’s finest left for Quebecers to resolve.”

Whereas the Tory chief mentioned the issues involving Invoice 21 falls squarely inside provincial borders, a few of his MPs weren’t shy about expressing a special opinion.

“I can’t in good conscience maintain silent on this anymore. That is an absolute shame,” tweeted Ontario MP Kyle Seeback, linking to a information story about what occurred to the trainer sporting the hijab.

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“It’s time politicians stood up for what’s proper. Invoice 21 needs to be opposed. In court docket, within the Home of Commons and within the streets.”

“100 per cent,” Jamie Schmale, the Conservative critic for Indigenous Providers, tweeted in response.

Additionally on the social media platform, B.C. Conservative MP Mark Strahl mentioned “Thanks in your management, Kyle. My views on this are the identical as yours.”

Alberta Conservative Chris Warkentin added that, “If authorities is free to restrict non secular freedom it should take liberties to limit different freedoms.”

“I assist freedom for each Canadian!”

O’Toole characterised his place as being the “very same” as that of NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh in addition to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who hasn’t dominated out the concept of federal intervention.

Not like Trudeau, O’Toole mentioned throughout the September federal election he would “by no means problem” a provincial regulation.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland mentioned on Thursday that Trudeau has been clear about the place the federal government stands on the difficulty.

Different Liberal MPs went on-line to expressly condemn the Quebec regulation, together with a consultant from that province.

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Alexandra Mendes known as it “outrageously discriminatory and absurdly counterproductive, at a time once we want all prepared adults to affix the workforce.”

Ontario Liberal Salma Zahid, who herself wears a hijab, tweeted she was “saddened and disenchanted” by what she learn in regards to the Quebec trainer, saying “This shouldn’t be occurring in Canada.”

“No one in Canada ought to ever lose their job due to what they put on or their non secular beliefs.”