QUEBEC — Buoyed by philosopher Charles Taylor, who Tuesday renounced part of his 2008 report on religious accommodations, Premier Philippe Couillard has vowed to keep religious garb in the public service.

Speaking at the National Assembly Tuesday, Couillard welcomed Taylor’s change of heart as “a very significant event.”

“It’s a major communication from Mr. Taylor,” he said. “It adds to our opinion and our conviction that we should not institute discrimination for access to work in Quebec on issues related to dress code. We’ve said this many, many, many times. And to see that Mr. Taylor agrees fundamentally with us on something like this is welcome.”

In 2008, Taylor, along with sociologist Gérard Bouchard, signed a report that called for a ban on religious symbols worn by public servants in positions of coercive authority — police, judges and prison guards.

Opposition parties quickly demanded the ban extend to teachers and daycare workers, “something we had not at all envisioned,” Taylor wrote in an open letter published Tuesday in La Presse.

He cited the controversy over the Parti Québécois’ 2013 Charter of Quebec Values as having created the “stigmatization” of certain sectors of Quebec society, particularly the province’s Muslim community, and blamed the controversy for attacks ranging from hateful comments to physical assault on Muslims wearing a veil.

Taylor said times have changed and he no longer endorses the recommendation.

Recalling last month’s deadly attack on a Quebec City mosque, Taylor noted the incident was followed by “a veritable explosion of solidarity and mutual acknowledgement between Quebecers of all origins. We are beginning to overcome the divisions … to mend the tears in our social fabric, the cleavages that have been caused, by other things, the debates of the last few years.

“I feel we cannot afford the luxury of new measures that would renew that effect of stigmatization, however good the intentions of those who would defend them. Don’t open the wounds again. Let’s make full room for reconciliation.”

Taylor called on MNAs to resist the “temptation to find a ‘compromise’ (on religious symbols) that could unite the parties in the National Assembly” and appeal to “old stock” Quebecers.

“From now on, the new ‘we’ in Quebec is much larger … the days when a part of our society, even the majority, can act without considering its marginalized minorities is past.”

Taylor also pointed out that any such legislation adopted by Quebec would probably be struck down by the courts, which would only result in “bitterness and division.”

Taylor’s appeal comes as MNAs areconsidering Bill 62,which would forbid that provincial public services be given or received by someone whose face is covered. Both opposition parties in the National Assembly have cited the recommendation of the Bouchard-Taylor commission focusing on public servants in authority as a condition of their support for the bill.

PQ Leader Jean-François Lisée maintained 80 per cent of Quebecers supported — and still support — that idea.

But Couillard didn’t budge and on Tuesday suggested politicians focus instead on “lifting the barriers” currently blocking minorities from fully integrating.

Too many immigrants, he said, are unemployed, which makes their integration into Quebec society difficult.

He saidQuebec City’s mosque shooting — in which six Muslim men were killed Jan. 29 — has spurred his government into action.

“What we’ve decided as an entire society, we said clearly, and I’m very proud of that, clearly no to exclusion, discrimination; we must show that actions are now following,” the premier said.

He said he will push for the speedy adoption of Bill 98 — which would make it easier for immigrants to get their professional training recognized and belong to professional orders.

“I expect that it will be adopted swiftly, I hope,” said Couillard.

Presse Canadienne contributed to this report.