A security guard works in the lobby of the Supreme Court of Canada as the court hears appeals on the constitutionality of Quebec's controversial secularism law known as Bill 21 in Ottawa on Thursday, March 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

By The Canadian Press

Supreme Court wraps up hearings over Quebec secularism law

Mar 26, 2026 | 12:31 PM

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada is beginning its deliberations about a Quebec secularism law after hearings on the controversial legislation wrapped up.

The 2019 Quebec law bans some public sector workers from wearing religious symbols on the job.

When it adopted the law, Quebec used a provision of the Constitution that allows governments to override the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The outcome of the case could change how Canadian governments can invoke the override clause, and it risks threatening the country’s unity amid calls for independence referendums in Quebec and Alberta.

The federal and provincial governments were among 61 parties that submitted arguments, over four days of hearings in the case.

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The English Montreal School Board is the main appellant in the case.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2026.

The Canadian Press