Premier François Legault’s fiery promise to defend Quebecers from "radical Islamists" by banning prayer in public has reignited a debate that has dominated the political agenda in the province for the last 20 years.

In a speech to open the latest session at the National Assembly last month, Legault talked about a threat to Quebec’s identity from what he called “politico-religious” groups.

“I'm talking about radical Islamists, a group of people who try by all means to impose their values, to challenge our values and in particular women's right to equality,” Legault thundered in the National Assembly.

Not to be outdone, the Parti Québécois , which leads in opinion polls under leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, not only supports the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)'s prayer ban but has also proposed prohibiting elementary school students from wearing religious symbols .

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator prays at the Mcgill encampment in April 2024. François Legault said in August he'll introduce legislation this fall to reinforce secularism that would include a ban on praying in public. (Ivanoh Demers Radio-Canada)

“What you're seeing now is a competition between the two nationalist parties to see who’s willing to go furthest in passing illiberal policies to make it more and more difficult for minorities to choose to be different,” Stephen Brown, president of the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), told CBC in an interview.

The promises are just the latest in a series of escalating secularism measures that have been proposed and debated in Quebec since the early 2000s.

And with Quebec’s current secularism law, Bill 21, being challenged before the Supreme Court of Canada and an election campaign coming next fall, the debate is not likely to end soon.

How it started

The roots of the secularism movement in Quebec date back to the 1940s and '50s, when the Catholic Church wielded tremendous social and political influence.

The church, which ran schools and hospitals, was basically interwoven with government, and dictated many moral standards.

WATCH | Behind secularism’s hold on Quebe