Ottawa/CMEDIA: Quebec government’s reported adoption of its secularism law, Bill 21 was within its rights, lawyers of the Supreme Court of Canada argued today.
Lawyer for the Quebec government, Isabelle Brunet told the court that the province does not have to justify its use of its notwithstanding clause which shields laws from legal scrutiny.
Some public sector workers were banned from wearing religious symbols on the job, according to the 2019 law, and the legislation includes a provision that overrides the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Justice Nicholas Kasirer however pushed back and said nothing in the Constitution prohibits a judge from issuing a declaratory judgment on a law invoking the notwithstanding clause.
Also read: A recap of the first day of arguments at the Supreme Court
Lawyers for the groups challenging Bill 21 told the court on Monday that the law goes too far in circumventing Charter rights and is unconstitutional.
