Quebec’s Christmas Decoration Ban Reversed

Employees are once again free to deck Quebec with Christmas decorations in federal government buildings.

In a direct slap in the face to the Grinch Who Stole Christmas from Service Canada employees, Canada’s Human Resources Minister told Service Canada employees they were once again free to put up Christmas decorations in federal government buildings. A senior Service Canada official asked employees earlier in the month to keep decorations in personal spaces only and to keep them out of public areas in 120 offices. The request sparked a Twitter feud before eventually reaching the House of Commons. Public religious displays and issues of religious accommodation are particularly sensitive in Quebec, where the legislature has voted unanimously in favour of banning the kirpan, and many conclusions of the Bouchard-Taylor report on religious and cultural minorities have been effectively rejected.