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."

His statement follows months of efforts by the Coalition Avenir Québec government to reinforce secularism in the province, which includes adopting a law that requires immigrants to embrace the common culture of the province and tabling a bill to expand the province's religious symbols law to include school

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