Canada’s unique history can lead to both interesting compromises and stark divergences in how its founding cultures respond to social policy issues and questions.

One example is the French principle of state secularism, which dates back to the French Revolution. 

State secularism most recently stirred national debate in 2019 with the Quebec National Assembly’s Bill 21, capturing headlines across the country as the bill that prohibited the wearing of religious symbols in certain positions of authority within Quebec’s public service, such as police officers, judges, and public-school teachers.

A new English-language podcast series from Cardus, The Nation & The Veil, aims to unpack the unique historical, cultural, and political mores that led to Bill 21 and the views of Quebeckers on topics such as religious accommodation. This four-episode audio documentary, which debuts today, is co-hosted by Jean-Christophe Jasmin, Cardus’s Quebec Director, and Lisa Richmond, Cardus’s Vice President of Research. Each episode features interviews with Quebec scholars and other experts helping to unpack this important topic for an English Canadian audience.

“This podcast series is an in-depth look at the social and political history that culminated in the present law,” says Jasmin. “It combines our own study of this topic with interviews we’ve conducted with knowledgeable experts, with the aim of fostering greater understanding and dialogue between anglophone and francophone Canadians.”

The four episodes focus on history, contemporary politics, opposing visions of laïcité, and on opposing models. Each episode is approximately one hour.

The Nation & The Veil is available on major podcast platforms.