New provisions strengthening Quebec’s secularism framework came into effect this September. The measures expand restrictions on religious practices in certain public institutions and educational settings.

Under the new rules, religious practices are prohibited in premises and facilities  belonging to public institutions. This means that dedicated prayer rooms at universities can no longer be used for prayer. The legislation also prevents students from using other campus spaces, such as classrooms, offices or dining areas, for religious practices.

The changes also extend restrictions on religious symbols to additional groups, including staff in subsidized private schools and subsidized childcare services. The law also establishes new rules for religious accommodations and prohibits collective religious practices on public roads and in public parks without municipal authorization.

The Quebec government presents the measures as part of its model of state secularism, emphasizing the separation of religion and the state, state neutrality and equality. Critics, however, argue that the expanded restrictions place greater limits on religious expression and practice, with particular implications for Muslim communities.