Displaying items by tag: constitution

A landmark legal challenge to Quebec’s secularism law, Bill 21, is set to be heard by Canada’s supreme court, raising major questions about religious freedom, constitutional rights, and national unity. The 2019 law bars certain public-sector workers from wearing religious symbols and is protected by the ‘notwithstanding clause’, which allows governments to override specific Charter rights. Critics argue the law disproportionately affects religious minorities and risks setting a precedent for limiting fundamental freedoms, while supporters say it upholds state neutrality and democratic authority. The case has drawn widespread attention; many, including the federal government, have called for imposing limits on how the clause can be used. The court’s decision could redefine the balance between judicial oversight and parliamentary power, with implications extending far beyond Quebec.

Cuba’s national assembly is considering changes to the 1976 constitution. A draft new constitution recognises private property and opens the door to same-sex marriage. In July five evangelical churches in Cuba spoke out their opposition to same-sex marriage because the ideology of gender is totally foreign to Cuban culture or ‘the historic leaders of the Revolution.’ They explained their position in a statement posted on social networks. The five denominations do not belong to the government-approved Cuban Council of Churches. Evangelical churches in Cuba have experienced rapid growth since the government's religious opening up in the 1990s. They now have hundreds of ‘home temples’ spread around the island. See:

MP Istvan Bajkai hopes homelessness will become a thing of the past if his proposed law is taken on by the government. Bajkai previously worked as prime minister Viktor Orban’s lawyer. He wants to amend the constitution to ban homeless people from living and sleeping in public spaces. He said sleeping rough shouldn’t be necessary as everyone without a home is guaranteed shelter. Support services, day centres, and night-time accommodation, are widely available. But according to a local NGO, there are 11,000 places available in temporary accommodation for 30,000 people sleeping rough. Critics say many shelters are unsuitable and lack security, and banning the homeless from public spaces would be impossible to enforce. The director of Shelter Foundation said that to solve homelessness, Orban’s government should support the development of cheap rentals in cities or offer financial support to those who cannot afford to live in them.