Bill 21: condoning racism

Students and instructors weigh in on the recent Quebec law

 By KRISTEN HOLLIDAY

Jashan Singh believes that in Canada, you shouldn’t have to choose between your job and your religion.

A recent Quebec law has the fourth-year Langara business administration student reflecting on the impact of intolerance on people who put down roots in Canada, thinking the country values multiculturalism.

“You came here, you are working so hard, and contributing to the economy,” Singh said. “In the end, what are we going to get? A restriction on our religion? That’s not fair.”

Bill 21 was passed by Quebec’s provincial government in June 2019 which bans public workers, such as teachers, police officers and lawyers, from wearing religious symbols. These include turbans, kippahs and crosses. While providing or receiving some public services it is forbidden to wear anything covering the face. Coalition Avenir Québec says this bill protects state secularism, but

Ranil Prasad, a campaign manager for the BC Humanist Association, disputes that claim. The association of atheists and agnostics believe compassion and morality are possible without religion.

Indira-Natasha Prahst SOCIOLOGY INSTRUCTOR

Prasad spoke about the bill at a UBC event, which was hosted by the Hillel Jewish Students’ Association and the Kazakh Student Association on Oct. 30. He said even in a secular state everyone should be heard.

“This doesn’t mean excluding people based on how they look from society, which is what Bill 21 does,” Prasad said.

Langara Canadian studies instructor Lee Blanding believes Bill 21 is