The Quebec government stood by its plan to expand the province's secularism law as public hearings opened for Bill 9. The proposed legislation would prohibit staff at private schools and subsidized daycares from wearing religious symbols on the job. It would also require municipalities to authorize public prayers, ban dedicated prayer rooms in public buildings, and extend the ban on face coverings within the public education system.

Jean-François Roberge, the minister in charge of secularism, stated that passing the bill is a top priority and expressed confidence that it will become law.

However, critics have raised several concerns. Groups such as the National Council of Canadian Muslims, Liberal MNA Madwa-Nika Cadet, and the CSN labor federation argue that the bill unfairly targets visible religious minorities. They also warned that the new rules could worsen staffing shortages in daycares and give employers the power to deny certain religious accommodations.

In contrast, the authors of the Pelchat-Rousseau report suggested that accommodating religious requests can put a strain on public services, noting that they have received complaints regarding face coverings. Meanwhile, the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) cautioned that the new permit requirements would create more paperwork for cities and increase the risk of legal challenges.