Marois doesn’t envision public-sector firings due to secular charter

MONTREAL – Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois says she doesn’t believe her party’s controversial secular charter would result in public-sector employees losing their jobs.

Marois moved to reassure voters today after one of her party’s Montreal candidates weighed in on the matter.

Evelyne Abitbol was asked pointedly during a political debate whether doctors who continue to wear a kippa would lose their job if the charter were adopted.

She first replied that doctors in such cases would be fired within a year before backtracking and saying there was a five-year transition period for hospitals.

Marois told a news conference in Montreal she is confident the prescribed transition period would give people time to adapt to the charter.

The proposed legislation would restrict government employees from wearing religious symbols like hijabs, turbans, kippas and larger-than-average crucifixes while on the job.

Questions about job dismissals for those having to choose between religion and employment has been raised frequently by Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard during the campaign.