Statement on the Impact of Québec’s Bill 21

The cornerstone of quality public education is that it is for all students, families, employees, and communities. As a public school board, the DDSB welcomes, values, affirms, and respects the identities of all community members. We also recognize the critical importance of having a workforce that reflects the diversity of students we serve.

Recently an educator in Québec who wears a hijab was reassigned from their teaching duties because of a provincial law that prevents public service employees from wearing religious symbols at work. This law has a discriminatory and racist effect on individuals and groups based on the expression of their religious beliefs.

Such an action, so close to home, has created a myriad of emotions for those within the DDSB community. We deeply share these feelings of concern as this law and decision directly contradict our core values of upholding human rights and fostering inclusion. Diversity is the strength of public education and seeing a discriminatory law being implemented to prevent such diversity is unacceptable. 

While the legal ramifications of this law and decision unfold, we continue to take anti-oppressive approaches and actions to the work that we do. We remain unwavering in our commitment to providing learning and working environments that centre Indigenous rights, human rights, and equity and that are safe, welcoming, respectful, inclusive, equitable, and accessible for everyone. Discrimination has no place in our schools, workplaces, communities, province, and country.