Quebec to extend religious symbols ban, outlaw university prayer rooms in new bill

By Canadian Press on November 25, 2025.

MONTREAL — The Quebec government will table a new bill this week to strengthen secularism rules in the province, including a ban on prayer rooms in colleges and universities.

The bill, to be tabled Thursday, will deliver on the government’s promises to prohibit prayer in public places, and to extend the province’s religious symbols ban to daycare workers.

It would also impose conditions for government funding of private religious schools, including that they not teach religion during classroom hours.

And it would prohibit full face coverings for students and staff in daycares, colleges and universities — they are already banned in elementary and high schools.

The details of the bill were confirmed to The Canadian Press by a government source not authorized to speak publicly.

Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge referred to the bill as “Secularism 2.0” on social media, following the passage of the province’s previous secularism law, Bill 21, in 2019.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2025.

The Canadian Press