The new rules allow for ‘cultural diversity or traditional or historical activities’ but teaching a ‘belief, a dogma or the practise of a specific religion’, is outlawed.
At the press conference announcing details of the ban last December, an example was given to explain how the distinction would be enforced: “…a historic activity would allow for the display of a nativity scene, but would not allow talk about the birth of Jesus or explaining who Mary or Joseph were,” said Yolande James, Family Minister.
She went on, “Young Quebecers who attend our day care services do so in a spirit of openness to others and diversity.”
Fifty-eight nursery inspectors have been hired who will visit the region’s day care centres to make sure the ban is being enforced. Those in breach of the ban risk losing all or part of the $40 (just under €30) per day per child state subsidy. In these crèches, parents only pay €5 a day.
Just before the introduction of the new rules, a coalition of mostly Catholic and Jewish parents filed an injunction to suspend the no-religion regulations.
They argue that when the Parti Québécois government introduced its popular universal day care network in the 1998, the centres were to be reflections of the diverse communities they served.
Today there are about 100 day care centres that offer a religious focus, whether from a Christian, Jewish or Muslim perspective.
About one in 20 are run by religious denominations.
These will no longer be allowed to have songs to Jesus, pray to him, or even say grace together before meals.
Jewish-run day cares will not be allowed to teach about Passover or Old Testament stories such as Noah’s Ark if God is mentioned.
The list of do's and don’ts is complex; it is ok for a child to start a prayer, but not a teacher. A priest can visit a day care, but not offer religious instruction.
At least one director has already told a teacher to drop a reference to God in the popular song Au Clair de la Lune, according to members of the coalition.
Books with Bible stories are being pulled off shelves, and children can henceforth be told about the building of Noah’s Ark but not that God commanded it.
“This will be paralysing for our educators. They are emotionally broken. For them it’s like punishing the children,” Danielle Sabbah, president of an association of 17 Jewish day cares told the Globe and Mail. “In Jewish culture it’s very difficult to separate religion, tradition and culture.”
Marie-Josée Hogue, lawyer for the coalition, which includes more than 200 parents and associations from the Catholic, Jewish and Egyptian Copt communities, said it is a fundamental question.
“The benefits of the law should be the same without distinctions like religion and belief.” Day care, she said, “is a substitute to the home environment.”
The Catholic Civil Rights League has stated that the new rules discriminate against religious believers and is supporting the Coalition’s court action.
“In effect, in the name of respect for diversity, the government is abolishing true diversity more and more in educational programs,” said Jean Morse-Chevrier, Quebec director for the League and chair of the Association of Catholic Parents of Quebec.
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