Rotrand withdraws motion on religious garb at city hall

Councillor Marvin Rotrand withdrew his motion affirming Montreal city councillors’ right to wear religious symbols on Tuesday after both leaders in council said their parties would not support it.
In an emotional speech, opposition leader Lionel Perez, who wears a yarmulke (Jewish skullcap), spoke eloquently of the importance of freedom of religion as a fundamental value, but said Rotrand’s motion simply muddied the waters in an already divisive climate on the right to