Montreal English School Board Seeks Approval to Challenge Bill 21 Ruling at Supreme Court

The English Montreal School Board intends to seek permission to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada regarding a recent decision that upheld Quebec’s secularism law, known as Bill 21.

In February, Quebec’s Court of Appeal determined that Bill 21 is constitutional, overturning a previous ruling that exempted English school boards from implementing certain aspects of the law.

Enacted in 2019, the law prohibits public sector workers in authoritative roles, such as teachers, judges, and police officers, from wearing religious symbols while on duty.

The school board had contested the law, arguing that it violates minority language rights and gender equality provisions outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Although the board initially succeeded in securing exemptions from specific provisions of the law, including the restriction on hiring teachers who wear religious symbols, Quebec’s highest court reversed this decision.

The school board announced that its council of commissioners voted on April 10 to commission a law firm to submit an application seeking permission to appeal to Canada’s highest court.

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