For An Inclusive Secularism; Submission on Bill No. 9, Quebec National Assembly

Media Statement – Montreal, Dec 23, 2025

The Canadian Muslim Forum (FMC-CMF) submitted a formal brief to the National Assembly of Québec on December 17, 2025, regarding Bill 9, expressing serious concerns about its implications for fundamental rights, social cohesion, and the relationship between the state and religious communities.

In its submission, FMC-CMF acknowledges Québec’s authority to define its institutional framework. However, it stresses that legislation affecting freedom of religion, equality rights, and access to public services must be approached with caution, transparency, and broad social dialogue. The brief outlines how Bill 9, as currently framed, risks deepening exclusion and mistrust, particularly among religious minorities, by reinforcing measures that may disproportionately affect certain communities.

The submission emphasizes the importance of protecting constitutional rights, respecting human dignity, and ensuring that public policy promotes inclusion rather than division. FMC-CMF underscores the need for meaningful consultation with affected communities and for policies that strengthen social harmony rather than contribute to stigmatization or marginalization.

The brief is grounded in the following key principles:
-Respect for Québec’s democratic institutions.
-Compliance with the Québec and Canadian Charters of Human Rights and Freedoms.
-Promotion of social cohesion, equality, and freedom of conscience.
-Inclusive participation of all citizens in public life.

Among the main concerns raised, FMC-CMF highlights the disproportionate impact Bill 9 may have on segments of Quebec society, particularly Quebec women of Muslim faith, potentially limiting access to public employment, public services, and full civic participation. The submission also warns of the risk of social exclusion, noting that certain measures may unintentionally reinforce marginalization and weaken trust between public institutions and segments of the population.

Additionally, the brief raises concerns regarding the compatibility of Bill 9 with constitutional protections, including freedom of religion and conscience, equality before the law, non-discrimination, and human dignity. It further stresses the long-term impact on youth, cautioning that exclusionary policies risk disengagement and alienation rather than fostering integration, belonging, and civic participation.

Through this submission, the Canadian Muslim Forum calls on lawmakers to reassess Bill 9 in light of Québec’s democratic values, legal obligations, and commitment to pluralism. FMC-CMF urges the government to adopt an approach that upholds equality, freedom of conscience, and mutual respect for all Quebecers.