Quebec's attempt to gather info on what teachers wear violated charter rights, union says

A labour federation representing Quebec teachers is taking legal action against the provincialgovernment for its attemptto track how many teacherswear a religious symbol such as a hijab or kippa.

The Fdration autonome de l'Enseignement(FAE), which represents43,000 teachers in the public school system, argues in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the moveviolated Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

The government tried twice to collect that informationonce under the CAQ, in January 2019, and once under for the former Liberal government, in June 2018, the FAE said.

"When there is rule of law in Canada, you should not have to choose between your faith and your job,"said Rmi Bourget, a lawyer for the FAE.

"We ask that these requests be considered unconstitutional and that all the information gathered be destroyed."

CAQ poised to table bill

The filing comes as the Coalition Avenir Qubecgovernmentprepares to table a bill as soon asThursday that wouldban public workers in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols.

Teachers, as well asschool principals, wouldbe subject to the ban, sources have told Radio-Canada.

It wouldalso apply to lawyers, judges, police officers,courthouse constables, bodyguards, prison guards and wildlife officers.

According to Radio-Canada, the proposed legislation will contain a grandfather clause to allow an estimated 500 public sector workers to keep wearing their religious symbols.

However, Bourgetsaid such a grandfather clause would merely shiftthe discriminationfrom practising teachers to those hoping to one day work in the classroom.

Quebec's Superior Court must decide whether it will hear the FAE'slegal challenge. Bourget said it's too soon to say whether the legal challenge will affect the CAQ's proposed law.