Bill 21 makes it to the Supreme Court of Canada

The law prohibiting religious wear from jobs in the public sector is being challenged.
Archive graphic by Carleen Loney / The Concordian

“She was like, ‘You would have gotten paid for it. I’m so sorry, someone else is going to come in,’ and that’s it. There was no other discussion with the principal or anybody else,” said Fatima Khan. 

In June 2024, Khan graduated from Concordia University after studying fine arts with a specialization in art education. 

“I always wanted to be a teacher. It’s something that I cherish so much,” said Khan. 

In 2019, Quebec passed Bill 21. If you wear a hijab, kippah, or turban to work in the province, this law can prohibit you from being employed in the public sector in professions such as school teacher, lawyer, or policeperson. 

Unable to find work due to Bill 21, Khan was forced to leave home and relocate to Ontario. While her classmates could graduate and work for public schools in Quebec, Khan had to apply for extra certifications in another province. Ontario also charges annual fees to maintain your teaching certification. 

“It was just very sad and very upsetting that I had to leave Quebec because of my hijab,” said Khan. Her family may join her out-of-province. 

“I grew up here in Quebec. Quebec, for me, is home. But to have you being discriminated against [for] my faith was not something light for me. And I wasn’t going to compromise my faith because of Bill 21.”

On Jan. 23, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) agreed to hear a challenge of Bill 21

“I didn’t really understand that the bill would actually pass,” said Sara Kennedy, a professor in Concordia’s department of education. 

“It’s really heartbreaking to tell [people who wear religious symbols] that if you’re going to apply for this program and go through these four years […] as the law is now, you may not be able to be hired at any publicly funded school in Quebec,” said Kennedy. 

Khan spent time working as an unpaid intern with no issue. However, when she applied for paid roles, she would be rejected. 

“I’m studying the same thing, I’m getting my qualifications, I’m getting a teaching license, I’m graduating, I’m doing amazing academically, yet the government stops me from getting my compensation,” said Khan. 

“[Bill 21 is] telling young people, young students, young members of the community that there are certain professions that they’re just excluded from if they want to fulfill their version of their religious beliefs and practices,” said Harini Sivalingam from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA). 

The CCLA is one of the groups that is bringing the case forward. According to Sivalingam, the SCC could rule on the case by the end of 2025. 

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