Manitoba likely to intervene in court fight over Quebec law on religious symbols

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says his government will likely intervene in a future court battle over Quebec’s secularism law.

In his annual state of the province speech, Pallister says Quebec’s ban on religious symbols being worn by some civil servants is hurting Canada’s reputation on the international stage.

He told some 1,300 people at a business luncheon that Canada must stand up for rights and freedoms, similar to the way Canadian soldiers fought in the world wars.

Pallister has been a vocal critic of the Quebec law, and says Manitoba will likely seek intervener status if the legislation winds up in the Supreme Court of Canada.