CSL adopts resolution opposing Quebec Charter of Values

Here is a copy of the resolution CSL Council adopted on October 1, 2013.

 

RESOLUTION ON THE OPPOSITION OF THE CITY OF CÔTE SAINT-LUC TO THE ADOPTION OF THE QUEBEC CHARTER OF VALUES

 

WHEREAS the Government of Quebec proposed passing a Charter of Quebec Values in to law;

 

WHEREAS in the opinion of the Cote Saint-Luc City Council, the proposed Charter infringes rights granted under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Quebec Charter of Rights in a way that is not reasonable in a free and democratic society;

 

WHEREAS the Council of the City of Cote Saint-Luc believes that the state can be secular while still supporting all religions and those who have no religion and that the way an individual is dressed as a result of their religious beliefs in no way impacts such individuals ability to provide services in a secular state;

 

WHEREAS the proposed Charter will make our civil service, less diverse, as the law forbids employees from wearing religious attire even when such attire is required as a result of their religious beliefs;

 

WHEREAS the City of Cote Saint Luc is composed of people of many cultures, languages and religions, and has no difficulty supporting all such cultures, languages and religions and has no difficulty with civil servants who wear religious head-coverings and/or religious symbols;

 

WHEREAS not one of the residents of our city has ever complained about the clothes/jewelry worn by our civil servants wearing religious attire;

 

WHEREAS our city wants to have diversity in our civil service;

 

            It was

           

                        MOVED BY COUNCILLOR 

                        SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR 

 

            AND RESOLVED:

 

“THAT the City of Cote Saint Luc:

 

·         will vigorously oppose the adoption of the Charter of Quebec Values as proposed by the Quebec Government and firmly states that this proposed Charter of Values does not consist of our values;

 

·         will use all legal means to contest such Charter of Quebec Values if ever adopted into law,

 

·         will invoke any exemption existing in such a law given our opposition to the law;

 

·         will never terminate or punish any employee of the City of Cote Saint-Luc for wearing clothing required by their religion irrespective of any adoption of the Charter of Quebec Values into law;

 

·         will continue supporting our churches and synagogues and other religious institutions as well as those who profess no religion and will continue to maintain all traditional practices of the City including the presence of a Christmas Tree and Menorah on the City Hall lawn at winter holiday time. ”

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY