Since the adoption of the Act respecting the laicity of the State in 2019, which affirmed secularism and enshrined the principle of state religious neutrality in Québec, issues relating to secularism and religion have been at the forefront of Québec’s political and legislative landscape. The law initially imposed obligations on public bodies to ensure compliance with the principles of secularism, including restrictions on the wearing of religious symbols in the public sector.
However, on April 2, 2026, the Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Québec came into force, expanding the obligations relating to secularism in Québec. More specifically, this legislation enacts a new statute, namely the Act to foster living together and to provide a framework for accommodations on religious grounds (the “Act”).
