The fundamental reason for the Quebec Charter of values as proposed by the present PQ Government, tabled as Bill 60, is to render Quebec a secular society, defined as a neutral society disallowing any faith community to be part of a public discourse. No society can move forward without hope and if it were possible to create a neutral society the need to instill hope in every member of Quebec society remains fundamental. Hope speaks louder than faith.
The following expressions of hope are essential to a Charter which opens all of society to a good life today and a better life tomorrow.
Hope for all Quebeckers to have all this is necessary for a good life
Hope that ethical values can replace hyper-consumerism
Hope that unity can be obtained through diversity
Hope that the people are seen for their usefulness but for their innate dignity
Hope that differing cultures will enrich la culture Québecoise
Hope that respect of differences will lead to harmony
Hope that the meaning of life can find strength in all religious values
Hope that no one religion be recognized as a national religion
Hope that a secular society be an inclusive society
Hope that a secular society is respectful of its historical roots
Hope that a secular society is established to create better world
Hope that religious communities are motivated to create a better world
Hope that conflicts can be resolved through dialogue and conversation
Hope that confrontations be learning experiences
Hope that society be mature to receive other cultures which challenge its foundations
Hope that society realizes that no one culture is sacred
Hope that society is founded on inalienable human rights
Hope that society seeks to strive for social justice
Hope that religions adapt to the reality of an inter-faith world
Hope that religions abandon any sense of absolutism
Hope that religions accept the pluralism of the world
Hope that all religions emphasize a common responsibility for the poor
Hope that all religions accept an openness of faith to radical change
Hope that a secular society and religious communities accept common values
The final expression of hope rests in the hearts of each member of society and that is that each human being deserves the respect of her or his dignity, precisely as a human being regardless of her or his religious affiliations and regardless of what external religious symbols they may wear to express their faith.