By Canadian Press

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante faces online threats over secularism stance

Apr 18, 2019 | 10:21 AM

MONTREAL — Quebec’s premier is speaking out against online threats levelled against Montreal’s mayor over her stance on Bill 21.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante has said she’s been the target of increasing threats since making known her opposition to the provincial secularism bill.

Plante told reporters threats of physical violence on social media have spiked recently, and she’s taking them very seriously.

A senior aide to the mayor told The Canadian Press that messages deemed to have crossed a line have been flagged and given to Montreal police.

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In Quebec City, Premier Francois Legault called the threats unacceptable and said the debate over Bill 21 must be respectful.

Bill 21 would prohibit public servants in positions of authority — including teachers, police officers, Crown prosecutors and prison guards — from wearing religious symbols on the job. A grandfather clause would protect people already hired in those positions.

The debate surrounding the proposed legislation has been divisive since the bill was tabled last month.

“This is unacceptable. We have to repeat again that this debate has to be done respectfully, and we have to be careful about any kind of violence,” Legault said in Quebec City on Thursday.

The Canadian Press