Milton Council to discuss Quebec’s Bill 21

Milton Council is set to discuss Quebec’s Bill 21 at a meeting tonight (Feb. 7).

Several Canadian municipalities have made monetary donations to help pay for a legal challenge against Quebec’s controversial Bill 21, which prohibits public workers in positions of “authority” from wearing religious symbols, specifically while they are on duty.

In tonight’s meeting, Council will be discussing an application from the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada’s Tabassum Wyne in regards to making amendments to the Bill 21 motion.

The application notes that the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada has petitioned the residents of Halton Region and has gained over 2,000 signatories.

The application is calling on the Town of Milton and Halton Region to “support the community outreach, awareness and advocacy of the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada and community impact on its residents against the discrimination of freedom of religion in Quebec’s Bill 21.”

Additionally, the application is calling on the Town of Milton and Halton Region to commit and advocate to the Halton Region to provide funding from the Halton Community Investment Fund to the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada.

“Their work is essential in raising awareness so that discriminatory bills such as Bill 21 are never drafted here in Halton Region either,” reads the application.

At a recent meeting, Oakville council voted not to contribute public funds to the legal challenge against Quebec’s Bill 21, but instead, will be using their own personal funds to make contributions.

The meeting is set to begin tonight at 7:00 p.m.