Quebec moves to expand secularism law, limit public prayer

A new bill introduced in the Canadian province expands on a 2019 religious symbols law with new measures including a ban on face coverings in daycares.

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The latest efforts to strengthen state secularism, dubbed "secularism 2.0", are part of a new bill introduced by the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) on Thursday, expanding on a 2019 religious symbols law that has fuelled fierce debate throughout the country.

The original law prevents judges, police officers, teachers and public servants from wearing symbols such as the kippah, turban or hijab while at work.

Canada's Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge of that law early next year.

Jean-François Roberge, the minister responsible for secularism, told a news conference in French on Thursday that the bill was "part of an approach that respected individual as well as collective rights".