MONTREAL — Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville says his department will investigate complaints at 17 schools across the province where it is alleged that state secularism is not being respected.
Questions around religious neutrality in schools have been swirling since the publication last month of an Education Department report on a school in Montreal, where media reports had exposed questionable religious practices and a toxic climate.
Eleven teachers were suspended with pay at Montreal's Bedford school pending a complete investigation into the allegations. Drainville says in a statement that the 17 audits to be conducted by his department follow citizen complaints and should be completed by mid-January. The schools are all in the French system, with 11 in and around Montreal, three in Quebec City, one in Gatineau and two in the Saguenay region north of the capital.
In the meantime, the government has written to all school service centres in Quebec — which in 2020 replaced French school boards in the province — to remind them of the obligations they have in terms of secularism and respect for religious neutrality.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Quebec City to host Montreal-Ottawa neutral-site PWHL gameQUÉBEC — The Montréal Victoire will host the Ottawa Charge in a Professional Women’s Hockey League regular-season game in 2025. The PWHL announced Wednesday the game will take place on the afternoon of Jan. 19 at the Videotron Centre.
Read more »
How a Montreal school reignited a debate over secularism and Bill 21 in QuebecMONTREAL — An investigation into a climate of fear at a Montreal primary school has reignited a debate about secularism in Quebec's education system, with the provincial government pledging to consider new measures to keep religion out of classrooms.
Read more »
Montreal says Quebec-Canada dispute stalling badly needed funding to help homelessMONTREAL — Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says a 'constitutional fight' between Quebec and Canada is tying up money the city badly needs to deal with its worsening homelessness problem.
Read more »
Montreal says Quebec-Canada dispute stalling much-needed funding to help homelessMONTREAL — Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said Friday a 'constitutional fight' between Quebec and Canada is tying up money the city desperately needs to deal with its worsening homelessness problem as winter approaches.
Read more »
Montreal says Quebec-Canada dispute stalling badly needed funding to help homelessMONTREAL — Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says a 'constitutional fight' between Quebec and Canada is tying up money the city badly needs to deal with its worsening homelessness problem.
Read more »
Quebec-Canada dispute stalling crucial funding to help homeless: Montreal mayorMontreal Mayor Valérie Plante says a 'constitutional fight' between Quebec and Canada is tying up money the city badly needs to deal with its worsening homelessness problem.
Read more »