New Quebec government open to allowing existing teachers who wear religious symbols to keep their jobs

After a week of controversy, Quebec's incoming CoalitionAvenirQubec government isopening the door a crack to compromiseon its plan to ban some civil servants from wearing religious symbols.

The CAQsaid last week it would be prepared to fire teachers who refuse to take off their hijab or kippaor other religious garb, drawing thousands to aprotest marchand raising concernsfrom Muslim women who feeltargeted by the proposal.

Simon Jolin-Barrette, an MNAandspokesperson for the CAQ's transition team, said Tuesday the government would consider a clause that would allow teacherswho currently wear religious symbols to continue to do so. New hires would be forced to comply with the ban.

FranoisLegault'sCAQ, which won a majority in last week's provincial election, has promised to introduce a law prohibiting civil servants in positions of authority, such asjudges, police officers andprosecutors, as well as teachers, from wearing religious symbols in the workplace.

At a news conference, Jolin-Barrette said making such an exceptionisnot the CAQ's preference, but it would bewilling to hear the opposition's ideasabout how to make the law more flexible.

ThePartiQubcoisalso campaigned on a promise to impose a ban but onethat would only apply to newly hired preschool, elementary and high school teachers andnot those who already hold a job.

Jolin-Barrette stressed, though, that the CAQ was "elected on a clear mandate" to put in place such a ban.

Crucifix will stay

Jolin-Barrettealso saidthe CAQhasno intention of removing the crucifix that hangs behind the Speaker's chair in the province's National Assembly.

He argued there is no contradiction between the CAQ's plan to impose strict secularism rules on certain public servants and its desire to maintain the Christian symbol.

He said the crucifix, which has hung in the province's legislature since the 1930s, is part of "Quebec's heritage."

On Sunday, several thousand people gathered in downtown Montreal to denounce the proposed law, chanting "Legaulthas got to go," and "Franois, Quebec belongs to me."

With files from The Canadian Press