Voters reject Quebec City-area Muslim cemetery project 19 to 16
SAINT-APOLLINAIRE, Que. — It was by the slimmest of margins that a plan to establish the Quebec City area’s first Muslim-owned and run cemetery was defeated in a referendum Sunday by a vote of 19 to 16.
Voters were deciding whether or not to allow a zoning change for the proposed site in Saint-Apollinaire, 35 kilometres southwest of Quebec City.
The plan for the cemetery was developed after January’s deadly mosque shooting, but the issue was sent to a referendum after enough people came forward to oppose the project.
In the end, the outcome came down to the 35 people who cast valid ballots — a tough pill to swallow for the man who led the project.