The Big Five Podcast Quebec’s next target is religious schools. Plus: The Quebec judge protecting a criminal’s right to vacation in Florida
Nov 26, 2025
In this lively discussion, political analyst Raphaël Melançon and media commentator Meeker Guerrier dive into Quebec’s controversial decision to cut subsidies for religious schools and ban religious symbols for educators. They probe the political motivations behind these measures and assess their impact on minority communities. The duo also reacts to a shocking court ruling allowing a criminal to vacation in Florida, emphasizing the dangers of judicial leniency. Finally, they tackle McGill's cut of 25 varsity sports, highlighting the financial strains in academia.
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Secularism Push Reaches Private Schools
- The CAQ is extending secularism rules to private religious schools and banning religious symbols for staff to signal equal treatment across faiths.
- Raphaël Melançon argues the move fits the party's secularism brand and targets voters amid poor polling.
Timing Feels Politically Calculated
- Critics say timing suggests the policy is political manoeuvring to win back the CAQ's traditional base amid sagging polls.
- Meeker Guerrier and Elias Makos question whether this addresses a real problem or distracts from pressing issues.
Optional Classes Could Be A Workaround
- Private religious schools could avoid losing subsidies by making religious instruction optional or offering it outside core hours.
- Meeker Guerrier warns enforcement and monitoring would be the key challenge for such workarounds.