The hotly debated Charter of Values has launched into parliamentary hearings, giving citizens and groups the chance to tell politicians how they feel about the proposed ban on religious symbols.

Eight days of hearings are set to take place over the next three weeks, with more expected in the months to come.

The Liberal party calls Bill 60 a clear violation of Quebecers' rights.

The proposed legislation, known as the Charter of Values, would ban all government-paid employees and subcontractors from wearing religious symbols while working.

Following the first day of hearings, Liberal MNA Marc Tanguay strongly requested, in a statement, that the Parti-Quebecois show more openness on the matter.

In the same statement, released on Jan. 14, Tanguay points out that Quebecers agree with the majority of elements proposed in the bill. “Yet [the PQ] obstinately refuses to exclude the clothing issue that is fuelling arguments,” he said. “The Parti Québécois is choosing to divide rather than act with the consensus. “

Tanguay concludes that the PQ does not have substantial consensus to move forward with the bill, and has instead “chosen to incite division among Quebecers for base electoral reasons.”

Democratic Institutions Minister Bernard Drainville, who has been shepherding the Charter of Values over the past year, said he is proud this day has arrived.

Drainville said the province’s foreign born population has grown to 12.6 per cent. He says that’s an indication that Quebecers need to look at what unites them, beyond their differences.

"It's a bill for Quebecers that reflects what we are as a society. It's a moderate, well-balanced bill, and the kind of secularism, state secularism that we are proposing is a kind of state secularism that is proper, that is unique to Quebec society," he said.

For Drainville, the issue is plain and simple – to be neutral and credible, the state’s employees must appear neutral.

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois said she can recognize that the charter might be difficult for some people.

“We presented some period of transition for the implementation of these new rules and we think that this is very important,” she said.

Polls indicate that a bit less than half of all Quebecers are in favour of the measure, with support dropping considerably in urban areas, with just one-quarter to one-third of Montrealers being in favour.

The bill also officially reiterates Quebec's commitment to gender equality, something opponents of the bill dismiss as a smokescreen since gender equality has been cemented in Quebec's Charter of Rights and Freedoms for decades.

More than 250 groups and individuals submitted briefs to the National Assembly, and it is still possible for individuals to submit comments.