Prayer in the streets: Legault accused of lashing out at Muslims

Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, speaks to journalists on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Patrick Doyle)

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller says that Quebec Premier François Legault "keeps picking on Muslims."

"I don't know what Legault is picking on. It seems to me that it's always Muslims," he said on Tuesday.

Miller, who called for respect for freedom of expression and religion, was asked to react to Legault's announcement on Friday to "Islamists" that he might use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places such as parks.

"It was a comment he made from Notre-Dame, wasn't it? (...) Ah, he wasn't in the middle of mass," Miller began ironically.

He pointed out that "it's ironic" that his comments on secularism came just a few hours before Legault was due to attend the inauguration of the famous Paris cathedral, an "immensely religious" place.

"People have the right to pray in public, whether you're Jewish, whether you're on a pilgrimage to Saint-Joseph's oratory as you see (...) especially in summer, people climbing the stairs on their knees, Christians. Would that be banned?" he asked, questioning the way in which such a provision would be applied.

Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani, for his part, said that this was only "speculation" since Legault had not tabled a bill.

"Basically, I believe that the rights of any Quebecer are the same under the Canadian Charter as those of any Canadian. That includes the right to practise their religion," he added.

Justin Trudeau's political lieutenant for Quebec, Jean-Yves Duclos, also explained that we will have to see "what Legault has in mind."

"It's clear that a number of people are raising questions about fundamental freedoms, but before we can make any further pronouncements, we need more details from Legault," he said.

Legault made his comments last Friday on the last day of the parliamentary session in Quebec City. He explained that he would "fight" to defend Quebec's fundamental values, such as "secularism and equality between men and women," and said he was annoyed to see people praying "on their knees in the street."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 10, 2024.