Are you there, God? It's me, Franois Legault

QuebecPremier Franois Legaultis hopefulGod exists, but he can't know for certain.

"I hope there is a God, otherwise I think that if not, life would be unfair tothose who live in misery, who die young," he said Wednesday, adding that he was baptized Catholic but is non-practising.

"I hope that God exists, but I do not have confirmation."

The premier made the pronouncementin response to a reporter's question before the second day of hearingsinto Quebec's contentioussecularism legislation, Bill 21.

Legaultsaid there are "two competing theories" that God exists or that everything is random, but it's an "incredible" kind of randomness that includes the Big Bangand the origins of life.

Other politicians were asked for their own thoughts on God, given the heated debate around whether some public servants should be banned from wearing religious symbols.

If made law, Bill 21 would prohibit workers inpositions of authority,including public teachers, from wearing a kippa, hijab or turban.

Sol Zanetti, a Qubec SolidaireMNA, said he doesn't believe in God, but that the question wasn't relevant to the debate.

"It's not a scandal, you know. It has no impact," he said.

"We are in a secular state, and people know that politicians don't take their decisions based on religious values. The Quebec political system is already secular, so we don't need to go further."

He said the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects individual rights by enshrining "the freedom to believe and the freedom not to believe."

For their part, Liberal MNA Hlne David and PQ Leader Pascal Brubrefused to weigh in on the existence of a supreme being.

Brub said a politician's"personal convictions should never take precedence over legislation."

The hearings continue Wednesday afternoon in Quebec City.

Franois Legault offers his thoughts onthe existence of God

'Do you believe in God, Mr. Legault?'

5 years ago

Duration 0:25

Quebec Premier Franois Legault was asked about his faith in God Wednesday as hearings on his government's secularism bill continue.