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QUEBEC — The Coalition Avenir Québec appeared to soften its position Tuesday on plans to bar teachers from wearing religious symbols, saying it may grandfather the right so they can keep their existing jobs.

And it has recognized that Quebec’s magistrate’s council will have to be responsible for applying the ban to judges on the bench because the judiciary is independent.

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As for the crucifix hanging over the speaker’s chair in the National Assembly, it stays because it is a “heritage object” and an accessory to the debate about religious symbols, the CAQ says.

In what appears to be a step back from its hard line and an olive branch to obtain the support of the opposition parties, the incoming CAQ government spokesperson, Simon Jolin-Barrette, said he now wants to talk and cooperate with them about how they can all put this issue behind them as soon as possible.

Grandfathering the rights of teachers to wear symbols can be discussed, he said.