Human rights commission orders Quebec city to stop praying before meeting

The commission says the prayer goes against the city's obligation to remain neutral on questions of religion. The advisory follows a 2006 ruling involving Laval, Que., that found such prayers infringe individual rights. The commission says in a news release that it won't push the case to a costly tribunal because of the clear precedent set in 2006.

Saguenay is one of a handful of Quebec municipalities that have such prayers at the start of meetings.

The city's mayor, Jean Tremblay, has been an outspoken defender of Quebec's Catholic roots.