Quebec moves to ban public prayer, fails to confront Islamic extremism
Are we going to end centuries of Catholic expression in Quebec to stop Islamist expression? How about we deal with the Islamists themselves, instead of putting a band-aid on just one of the problems they've caused?
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Tonight, on The Ezra Levant Show, Ezra breaks down how Rebel News' coverage of Hamas protests outside a Quebec church shamed the Province into action. But is it the right action?
Ezra begins by explaining the difficulties of journalism in Quebec, a challenge that is courageously taken on by Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie, who has been threatened, attacked, and assaulted in the line of duty — by Antifa and authorities alike.
He continues that today's story has a lot to do with the Montreal Basilica, one of the oldest churches in Montreal, which, as Alexa has documented, has been the site of pro-Hamas demonstrations, including Islamic mass prayers. Alexa's coverage of the prayers was seen by millions of Montrealers and Québecers, some of whom even showed up to some of these demonstrations as counterprotesters.
On the subject of prayer, Ezra clarifies that he believes everyone should have the right to pray: a Jew in a synagogue, a Christian in a church, and a Muslim in a mosque. There is no shortage of mosques in the Montreal area. To pray in a public square or on a public street outside a Catholic basilica is not about religious expression; it's about power.
Now, Alexa has raised the issue enough that Quebec has run out of patience with the Hamas protesters.
Take a look at this article from the CBC:
The Quebec government intends to present a bill banning prayer in public.
Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge said in a statement Thursday that the "proliferation of street prayer is a serious and sensitive issue."
"The premier of Quebec has given me the mandate to strengthen secularism, and I am determined to fulfil this mandate diligently," he said.
"This fall, we will therefore introduce a bill to strengthen secularism in Quebec, in particular by banning street prayers."
Ezra warns that this is an indirect solution aimed at an indirect manifestation of the problem. The problem is not all that praying in the streets; that's only a symptom. The problem is the people themselves — not Muslims, but Islamists. You can even see in Alexa's coverage that many of the counterprotesters against Hamas were actually secular Muslims who hate the Islamists.
Ezra says that, at its heart, the problem lies with mass immigration, without integration. Immigrants were told they could keep their foreign ways and brought their old bigotries with them — bigotry against Jews, and bigotry against Christians.
Are we going to end centuries of Catholic expression in Quebec to stop Islamist expression? How about we deal with the Islamists themselves, instead of putting a band-aid on just one of the problems they've caused?
Ezra concludes that the government of Quebec is too frightened of Hamas supporters to confront them head-on and is targeting religious freedom of expression instead. But if they can't even name the problem, they'll never be able to stop it.
GUEST: Larry Brock, shadow minister for justice and the attorney general of Canada, from on the scene of Poilievre's Stand On Guard policy announcement in Brampton.
COMMENTS
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Joe Harris commented 2025-09-26 23:34:42 -0400I have such a hard time with corrupt and hostile police that will not hold up the law and protect ANTIFA and Protestors from other countries. It is not good to show partiality to the guilty by perverting the justice due the innocent. Proverbs 18:5.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just – both are detestable to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15 -
Peter Bradley commented 2025-09-10 11:59:57 -0400Generally, Christian dominant countries do better at maintaining honesty, respect, fairness and faith than other countries. But its not a requirement. “Democracy” formed in ancient Greece, before Jesus was even born. Islam is such a complicated religion that few muslems understand it. Like, how does one recognize “right” and “wrong” without love in their heart?
But Christians have flaws too, such as the LGBTQ2S+ crowd, and euthanasia? Both World Wars were between Christian countries. The 30 Years war was between Catholics and Protestants. A blood bath.
Finally, few are aware of God’s plan for the world, these days. How much divine wisdom have you learned? -
John Van Vliet commented 2025-09-10 04:53:29 -0400Any country that rejects God will deteriorate into a socialist state and from there into poverty, crime and deceit. By embracing Islam, they are embracing a death cult that celebrates death and has an obligation to kill jews and the people of the book, Christians. But there is a problem because Judaism and Christianity are a part of God’s design, not Islam and are inferior and contradict the divine order of God and His word.
The problem with Canada is a problem of rejecting the divine order, and we see laws like multi-gender, Rainbow Cult Parades, the restrictions of God given freedom, all these things will only degenerate Canada. As JT and Carney have rejected God forbid prayer or even wearing religious symbols, they have turned Canada into a deplorable state and have diminished its place on the world stage. History has shown that socialism has never succeeded, even though China had to return to realism and give more freedom, and allowed even Christianity to exist, willingly but out of desperation. Look at most Islamic nations, which are not pleasant places, but even worse are the socialist ones.
The compatibility between our culture and Islam is impossible because Islamic laws are anti-Jewish and anti-Christian. We see all over Europe and in other parts of the planet, Islam is a cult of laws, rules and regulations that must be obeyed, or punishment will follow.
Islam is intolerant, but the Jews and Christians are tolerant, which Islam will reject. You can not go to an Islamic nation, and if you do not commit to their laws, you will be punished!
But as Christians pray, their prayers will be answered. Many non-Christians who publicly mocked God or Jesus Christ have paid for it in many different ways that became very painful, making their lives a living hell.
Is this the Canada you want? -
Joe Harris commented 2025-09-04 23:04:37 -0400Christians need to be as brave as the Muslims, and pray as well in large numbers, give the government a message and see God work out those evil leaders and those that stand for Him. There are times when we need to stand for what is right and not retreat.
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Peter Bradley commented 2025-09-04 22:33:28 -0400My suspicion is that the Quebec politicians and police are so corrupt that the Muslims will defy the ban, continue to pray outside, and the police will stand back and do nothing.
This is God’s effort to strengthen the virtues of respect, honesty, faith and integrity in Quebeckers. -
Joe Harris commented 2025-09-04 20:15:53 -0400I am not sure they will solve the prayer problems with more laws. just need to not let it get violent and whoever hits or throws first goes to jail. That is already in place but never enforced by our globalist communist governments in Canada. the east is the worst for this then BC in the west.
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Anthony Salotti commented 2025-08-30 06:07:36 -0400Islam and the Western World will never coexist .
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Michael Guillery commented 2025-08-30 00:21:42 -0400Bruce,you’re quite right. People need to at least get acquainted with that ideology through some historical study. -
Patricia Pollock commented 2025-08-29 23:24:29 -0400This may not solve the core problem but it will at least stop the Islamists from blocking roads and taking over public places when they do ‘pray’ there. I tend to agree with this. It will be an immediate solution to stop the praying in public, while the solution to the core problem can be worked on.
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Peter Bradley commented 2025-08-29 23:13:45 -0400To ban prayer in public, they need to define “prayer”. For Muslims, Jews, Christians and Hindus( yoga), it might be easy. But for secularists, which itself is a religion based on the faith that there is no God, what is prayer? Wearing secular clothes is prayer? Burning Bibles and Qurans is a secular prayer? Gambling is a prayer to the god of chance. Skate-boarding is a prayer to the god of happiness. Let me go out on a limb and suggest that going for a walk is a prayer to the god of good health.
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Matt Abrahams commented 2025-08-29 21:40:54 -0400They’re going to ban public prayer. So, what happens when a Christian family goes to a restaurant and they say grace before they eat?
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Bruce Atchison commented 2025-08-29 20:51:33 -0400Islam is a warrior religion. Study its beginnings and you’ll see a warmongering and duplicitous warlord who robbed and pillaged his way across Arabia. And the commands in the Quran about slaying infidels who wouldn’t convert aren’t qualified. And “moderate Muslims” tend to join in with the zealots when Islam gets in power. Islam is taking over the west and our stupid leaders are all for it.
