MUHC reveals position on Bill 60

CTV Montreal: MUHC vs. Charter Montreal's largest English hospital has officially taken a stand against Bill 60, Quebec's Charter of Values. Stephane Giroux reports.

The McGill University Health Centre has finally revealed its position on Bill 60, the much-discussed legislation that would force provincial government employees to remove religious symbols while on the job.

The MUHC, which had frustrated some by its longstanding silence on the issue, announced Thursday that it will opt to fight the law in court if the legislation ever gets passed.

According to the MUHC, an internal survey revealed that 93 percent of its staff opposes the proposed charter and 125 employees would be willing to quit if they were forced to remove their religious symbols.

The MUHC said that it will not request an exemption from the law, it if gets passed. It would, instead, challenge it on the grounds of human rights.

“It’s clear for us that the bill should be withdrawn and in fact we will not apply for an exemption and if a bill is passed in its present form, we’d initiate immediate legal action to prevent its implementation, said MUHC CEO Normand Rinfret.

Some medical groups, such as the FIQ provincial nurses’ union have come out in favour of the charter but the MUHC chapter of the union has come out in opposition, as has the 5,000-employee CSN union.