QUEBEC CITY – Premier Pauline Marois has been asked to explain what is being described as a significant flip-flop on policy.
Marois is on the record as saying she once favoured open religious diversity in schools.
An education department policy document Marois signed in 1998 when she was Education Minister revealed that she encouraged teachers to show their diversity.
At the time, Marois said it was the best way to combat exclusion.
The document states:
“The credibility of our policies on being open to ethnocultural and religious diversity is based largely on the visibility of this diversity among teachers . . . We should aim for visible and active pluralism.”
The Premier’s past position is in stark contrast to her current view that religious symbols should be banned from the public sector.
The Parti Quebecois’ proposed charter of values aims to ban teachers from wearing religious garb in order to protect children from undue religious influence.
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“Why did the premier change her mind?” insisted Liberal parliamentary leader Jean-Marc Fournier.
Marois’ response?
“I am totally consistent.
“The best way to respect each other is to have a neutral state.”
Later on Thursday, the Premier re-emphasized her point.
“If you read the entire 49-paged document, you’ll see there are no contradictions,” she told reporters.
The minister responsible for the charter, Bernard Drainville, rushed to her defence.
“The document refers to common values 20 times, it talks about equality, it never mentions the word ‘religious sign.’ That does not appear in the document. I think she’s perfectly coherent,” he said.
However the opposition party, Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) wasn’t buying it.
“Mrs. Marois is listening too much to Jean-Francois Lisée and to people doing some political strategy instead of good sense.”
CAQ leader François Legault thinks Marois had a “calculated” change of heart.
“I think it’s strategy, that’s it, that’s all. I was there also. Unfortunately, I cannot say what I heard at the caucus, but I’m not surprised to see this evolution,” he said.
The debate on the charter has had a polarizing effect in the province.
READ MORE: Daycare worker photo adds fuel to fire of Quebec Charter debate
Quebecers are divided on the issue, with some school boards, municipalities, universities and hospitals now saying that they will ignore the charter if it ever becomes law.
Public hearings are set to begin in January.
In the meantime, opposition parties promise to use this new-found information to their advantage.
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