Montreal’s largest school board has seen over 100 support staff members leave their positions because they refused to comply with the province’s new secularism law by removing religious symbols.
This legislation, referred to as Bill 94, broadened the existing prohibition on wearing religious symbols, such as crosses and hijabs, to encompass support staff employees in schools, including roles like lunchroom monitors and special education technicians.
Multiple school service centers disclosed to Radio-Canada in February that numerous staff had either been terminated, suspended, or opted to resign due to the implications of Bill 94. The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSDM) has now also been compelled to let go of staff members.
A CSSDM spokesperson informed Radio-Canada that the service center recently notified employees that they risked losing their jobs if they did not comply with the new law by removing any religious symbols. While many staff members chose to adhere to the law by removing their symbols, approximately 150 did not.
Michel Picard, the head of the APPA CSN union representing most support staff workers in Montreal, expressed concern over the distress caused by the staff reductions within schools. The union also warned that these cuts could worsen staffing shortages.
Despite the staff reductions, CSSDM assures that they will maintain sufficient staffing levels to continue delivering services to students.
Annie Charland, president of the school support section of the FEESP union, highlighted the difficult position faced by employees, describing the situation as an unfair dilemma between their job and their religious beliefs.
The Quebec government passed Bill 94 in October 2025, extending the ban on religious symbols to all individuals interacting with students in schools, not just teachers and principals.
The legislation includes an exception for employees already working in school service centers, but this protection is only applicable up to the bill’s tabling date. Employees who changed positions or were hired between March 19 and October 30, 2025, are not covered by this exemption.
Former education minister Bernard Drainville, who introduced Bill 94, noted that affected employees could have removed their symbols during work hours but chose not to, emphasizing that they must face the consequences of their decisions.
The Education Ministry emphasized the need to respect the law, stating that it was adopted by the National Assembly and must be adhered to like any other law.
The Education Ministry’s online database indicates 1,135 unfilled support staff positions across the province, accounting for approximately three percent of total support staff positions.
Additionally, the Quebec government has enacted another secularism law, known as Bill 9, which restricts public prayer and extends the ban on wearing religious symbols to daycare workers.