Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Quebec To Prohibit Government Employees From Wearing Muslim Chador, Niqab And Burka

The Canadian Press, 25 Oct, 2018 12:07 PM
    Quebec's new Coalition Avenir Quebec government says it will go a step further in restricting religious symbols, prohibiting all public servants from wearing the chador, niqab or burka.
     
     
    The ban on the garments is expected to be part of legislation that will also forbid state employees in positions of authority, including teachers, from wearing visible religious symbols.
     
     
    The chador, which is worn primarily by Muslim women from Iran, is a cloak that covers the head and upper body but leaves the face visible. The burka covers the entire face with mesh over the eyes, while the niqab leaves a slit for the eyes.
     
     
    Justice Minister Sonia LeBel said the government will move forward with the measure despite questions about its legality.
     
     
    "There are always (legal) opinions that can lead in every direction, but what is important is for the government to give direction," she said.
     
     
    Premier Francois Legault has said in the past that he is prepared to invoke the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to ensure his religious-symbol legislation does not fall to a challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
     
     
    Legault said Wednesday his party's policy on the chador, burka and niqab is nothing new.
     
     
    "Our position is still the same," he said. "We do not want any state employees — not just people in positions of authority — to be able to wear symbols like the niqab or the chador."
     
     
    Although Legault said the chador ban is not a priority, Simon Jolin-Barrette, the Minister of Diversity, Immigration and Inclusion, said he hopes to introduce legislation quickly. He could not say whether it will be tabled before the end of the year.
     
     
    The legislature resumes sitting Nov. 27.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Feds Face Calls To Open Saudi Deal After PM Says Cancelling Would Cost Taxpayers

    Feds Face Calls To Open Saudi Deal After PM Says Cancelling Would Cost Taxpayers
    OTTAWA — The controversy surrounding Canada's $15-billion deal to sell armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia got deeper on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that taxpayers would pay "significant financial penalties" if the contract was cancelled.

    Feds Face Calls To Open Saudi Deal After PM Says Cancelling Would Cost Taxpayers

    Opioid Crisis May Be Decreasing Life Expectancy For Canadians: Report

    Opioid Crisis May Be Decreasing Life Expectancy For Canadians: Report
    OTTAWA — Canada's chief public health officer says the opioid crisis is responsible for limiting Canadians' life expectancy.

    Opioid Crisis May Be Decreasing Life Expectancy For Canadians: Report

    'Ridiculously Drunk': Canadian Sorry For Spraying Paint On Ancient Thai Wall

    A Canadian who was arrested in northern Thailand for spraying paint on an ancient wall says she's sorry for what she did and terrified about what comes next.

    'Ridiculously Drunk': Canadian Sorry For Spraying Paint On Ancient Thai Wall

    Abbotsford Police Targeting Identity Thieves With Project: That’s Not You

      In June 2018, the “That’s Not You” project was implemented to combat the use of stolen debit and credit cards.

    Abbotsford Police Targeting Identity Thieves With Project: That’s Not You

    Jagmeet Singh Calls On Feds To Fund Basic Income Pilot Project Scrapped By Ford

    OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is calling on the federal government to pick up the tab to continue a basic income pilot project scrapped by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

    Jagmeet Singh Calls On Feds To Fund Basic Income Pilot Project Scrapped By Ford

    Woman Testifies Ex-Gymnastics Coach Kissed Her On The Lips When She Was 12

    Woman Testifies Ex-Gymnastics Coach Kissed Her On The Lips When She Was 12
    A woman who accused her former gymnastics coach of sexual assault told his trial on Tuesday that the man controlled every aspect of her life when she was training with him as a teenager.

    Woman Testifies Ex-Gymnastics Coach Kissed Her On The Lips When She Was 12