/R E P E A T -- Jewish Community to Participate in Sunday's Demonstration Against Charter of Quebec Values/

MONTREAL, Sept. 24, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA-Quebec) invites members of the Jewish community to participate in large numbers in a demonstration against the Charter of Quebec Values being held on September 29^th 2013.

The demonstration is organized by Rassemblement des citoyens et citoyennes engage(é) pour un Québec ouvert, an initiative of a non-partisan group of young professionals. The goal of the demonstration is to remind the Government that "Our rule of law already guarantees a secular state and equality between men and women. It equally guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of religion. This is the true heritage that we must seek to protect".

CIJA-Québec reiterates that the separation of church and state is reality, and has been for the past 50 years. All limitations of fundamental freedoms must be reasonable and justifiable. However, the Government is unable to properly show the necessity to restrict the rights of employees in the public and parapublic service by proposing a ban on religious symbols. The Jewish community is reassured to see that civil society and an increasing number of Quebecers firmly oppose the unreasonable measures set forth by the Government.

SOURCE: Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs

David Ouellette
Associate Director, Public Affairs (Québec)
514-294-4420

Luciano G. Del Negro
Vice-President (Québec)
514-726-8311