Montreal’s largest school board has lost more than 100 support staff after employees refused to remove religious symbols to comply with the province’s new Bill 94 secularism law.
- Approximately 150 staff members at the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM) declined to comply with the religious symbol ban.
- The legislation extends the ban on symbols, such as hijabs and crosses, to all school employees who interact with students.
- Quebec currently has 1,135 unfilled support staff positions, representing about three percent of the total workforce.
The law, known as Bill 94, expands the prohibition of religious symbols to include support staff workers, such as special education technicians and lunchroom monitors.
A spokesperson for the CSSDM stated that staff members were recently informed they risked losing their employment if they did not comply. While many employees agreed to remove religious symbols, approximately 150 did not.
Impact on Schools and Staffing
Michel Picard, head of the APPA CSN union representing most support staff in Montreal, said the departures have caused distress within schools. Picard noted that students have been seen crying after their support staff quit.
The union warned that these cuts risk worsening existing staffing shortages. However, the CSSDM maintains that they will have sufficient personnel to continue providing student services.
Annie Charland, president of the FEESP union’s school support section, described the situation as a “false choice,” stating that employees are being forced to choose between their jobs and their religion.
Legal Scope and Government Response
Passed in October 2025, Bill 94 extends the secularism ban from teachers and principals to every employee who interacts with students.
The law provided an exception for employees already working in school service centres, but only up until the date the bill was tabled on March 19. Consequently, those hired or who changed positions between March 19 and October 30, 2025, are not eligible for the exemption.
Bernard Drainville, the former education minister who tabled the bill, stated that impacted employees chose not to respect the law and must bear the consequences of that personal choice.
A spokesperson for the Education Ministry reiterated that the law was adopted by the National Assembly and must be respected.
In a related move, the Quebec government also passed Bill 9, which limits praying in public and extends the ban on religious symbols to daycare workers.
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