Unlike François Legault, a strong majority of Quebecers are opposed to public funding of religious schools, reveals a Léger poll.
In this matter, the CAQ Prime Minister is going squarely against the population, while 62% of respondents are opposed to the financing of private religious schools in Quebec. Barely 27% support the idea.
Even among CAQ voters, opposition stands at 56%, compared to only 35% of respondents in favor.
Quebecers also generally reject the teaching of religion in primary and secondary schools, in a proportion of 64%.
Only 22% of those surveyed believe that such teaching is important, while 14% prefer to remain on the sidelines.
“This is a very clear result, with a majority within all subgroups of the population,” notes the executive vice-president of the Léger firm, Sébastien Dallaire.
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Bedford School
The debate on public funding of religious schools has resurfaced in the news in recent weeks, alongside revelations about the toxic climate imposed on the Bedford school by a group of teachers, most of them of North African origin.
The CAQ was then the only party to vote against a PQ motion aimed at abolishing public funding for religious schools. The next day, however, the Prime Minister said he was willing to debate the issue.
But François Legault insists, he above all wants to tackle the “risk of there being Islamist religious concepts in our schools”.
“All the PQ found good to say was to table a motion to abolish funding for private schools of Catholic tradition, as if Islamism and religion had to be put in the same basket in Quebec. Catholic. It’s embarrassing, embarrassing to hear the PQ,” he declared in particular during the question period.
Debate in the PLQ
Throughout this debate, liberal elected officials caused a surprise by also calling for an end to subsidies for religious schools. The caucus at the same time reversed a historic position of the party, without consulting the members.
Since then, leadership candidates and even elected officials have expressed their dissent.
But the Léger poll shows that the caucus was in tune with liberal voters: 52% of them are opposed to funding religious schools.
Complete secularism
In the case of the Bedford school, a public establishment under the responsibility of the Montreal School Services Center, an investigation report demonstrated that the “dominant clan” of teachers imposed conservative values, tinged by Islam.
These revelations created an outcry, both in the National Assembly and in the media.
Not surprising, when we know that 79% of Quebecers believe that students “should be educated in a completely secular school environment, without any religious influence,” as reported in the Léger survey.
“Quebecers are very close to a consensus on the fact that education must be secular and that religion remains at home,” says Sébastien Dallaire.
