Support the MLQ Before the Supreme Court of Canada

Urgent Appeal to All Supporters of Secularism

Mouvement laïque québécois (MLQ) (Quebec Secular Movement)

The following text is the English translation of a message from the Quebec Secular Movement (Mouvement laïque québécois, MLQ). They need the support of all secularists in order advance the cause of secularism before the Supreme Court of Canada.

A crucial battle will soon be engaged before the Supreme Court of Canada and your support is essential.

Next October, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear the appeal of the MLQ whose goal is that the secular nature of public institutions be respected by prohibiting the reciting of prayers at municipal council meetings.

Recall that the Humans Rights Tribunal has, on two separate occasions, ruled in favour of residents of the cities of Laval and Saguenay who registered complaints against the imposition of prayers at their municipal council meetings. In Saguenay, mayor Jean Tremblay took the case to the Quebec Court of Appeal which reversed two previous decisions, thus displaying a complete lack of understanding of the principle of secularism.

If that decision of the Quebec Court of Appeal were to stand, it would constitute a serious setback for the secularisation of our public institutions and for the defense of freedom of conscience.

Not only would prayers be authorized, but the very concept of religion-state separation would be utterly annihilated. Thus, the implications of this case reach far beyond the mere reciting of prayers in Saguenay. That is why the MLQ cannot accept such a decision and has decided to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada whose ruling will have an impact on all of Canada.

Such an operation will incur a cost of at least $100,000. The MLQ receives no grants and can proceed with this action only with the financial support of every supporter of secularism. We are aware that there are other causes related to secularism and freedom of opinion which are currently before the courts and which also need your generous support. But the events which will play out this coming October before the Supreme Court will undoubtedly have major repercussions for all related causes. We thus appeal for your support in order to fight this necessary battle right up to the very end.

You can contribute by Paypal on the MLQ web site, or by cheque made out to the Mouvement laïque québécois and sent by post to the following address:

C.P. 32132, succursale Saint-André
Montréal, Québec
H2L 4Y5

Thank you for your generosity.