As proceedings began Tuesday, February. 3, 2026, the Citizens’ Relations Committee of the National Assembly held public consultations on Bill No. 9, aimed at reinforcing laïcité (secularism) in Quebec.
Before the committee yesterday, Mgr Raymond Poisson, Bishop of Saint-Jérôme–Mont-Laurier and president of the Conseil Église et Société, acted as spokesperson for the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec (AECQ). He was accompanied by Montreal’s Archbishop Christian Lépine and AECQ Vice-President, Mgr Guy Boulanger, Bishop of Rouyn-Noranda and Amos.
Bill 9 builds on Bill 21, adopted in 2019, which established state religious neutrality and prohibited certain public employees from wearing religious symbols. In response to this expansion, the AECQ presented recommendations promoting an open, inclusive, and respectful vision of fundamental freedoms, stressing the protection of freedom of conscience and religion, and urging careful application of the bill to avoid inconsistencies or unintended effects.
The Citizens’ Relations Committee invites input from citizens, organizations, and representatives of religious communities across the province, providing a forum for diverse perspectives on proposed legislation. These consultations gave the bishops an opportunity to share the Catholic Church’s perspective alongside other voices in Quebec society.