The leader of the Coalition Avenir Quebec

and premier-designate says he will invoke the controversial notwithstanding clause in order to ban people in positions of authority in Quebec from wearing religious symbols on the job.

(The Canadian Press)

In his first news conference since his historic election victory Monday, Francois Legault, justified the move to work around the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

”The vast majority of Quebeckers would like to have a framework where people in authority positions must not wear religious signs,”said Legault. 

”If we have to use the notwithstanding clause to apply what we want, the majority of Quebeckers will agree.”

The CAQ’s plan would prevent civil servants, from teachers to judges, from wearing religious symbols, such as the Muslim hijab and Jewish kippa, when they interact with the public.

Legault is expected to be sworn-in sometime in the next two weeks.