CIJA Responds to the Introduction of Bill 9, “Loi sur le renforcement de la laïcité au Québec”

Montreal, QC - November 27, 2025 - The Quebec government today tabled Bill 9, "Loi sur le renforcement de la laïcité au Québec".

In response, Eta Yudin, CIJA's Senior Vice President (Quebec) issued the following statement:

"As you know, Quebec's Jewish community fully supports the defense of our shared values in Québec.

"For more than two years now, following the barbaric attacks carried out by Hamas terrorists in Israel, the importation of this conflict into our own society has revealed the dangers of Islamism and demonstrated that the legislative framework surrounding secularism meant to protect our society from antisemitism and entryism - as seen in the case of Bedford Public School-must be strengthened.

"Premier Legault himself underscored the threat posed by radical Islamists in his opening speech to the legislative session last September, describing them as 'a group of people who attempt, by every means, to impose their values, to challenge our values, and in particular women's right to equality.'

"We are therefore pleased to see that the government has followed our recommendations regarding the ban on street-blocking prayers. These prayers, used by radical Islamists to spread hatred and glorify terrorists, have no place in Quebec. We nevertheless hope that municipalities-which will now be tasked with authorizing or refusing such demonstrations-will show the same discernment as the Quebec government.

"The ban on the full-face veil in higher-education institutions must also be welcomed and has long been expected. The issue at stake is not religious freedom, but one intrinsically linked to gender equality and, above all, to safety and the fight against radicalization.

"In addition, we are pleased to see that the bill sanctions individuals who seek to prohibit, restrict, obstruct, or disrupt access to a place of worship and the exercise of religious practice within it-another long-standing request of our community. This is a very meaningful step forward.

"Nevertheless, we are dismayed to see Minister Roberge lose sight of the objective by using this bill to target subsidized private schools, which are not the source of the issues identified in the Bedford case and similar situations.

"This incomprehensible about-face is all the more troubling given that Premier François Legault himself described, in 2022, the network of Jewish private schools as a model for the rest of Quebec society.

"Walking back a government commitment repeatedly reaffirmed in public not to touch subsidized private schools-by adopting measures that affect institutions that comply with the law, restricting non-proselytizing religious symbols in these environments, and undermining freedom of choice to address problems that do not originate from them-is precisely what it means to lose sight of the objective.

"As always, we will work with the government to address the concerns of our community and advance the interests of all Quebecers."

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