Friday, March 29, 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

    Supreme Court Won't Hear Appeal Of Quebec Legislature's Kirpan Ban

    OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear the appeal of a Sikh man and woman who were prohibited from entering Quebec's legislature while wearing kirpans.

    Supreme Court Won't Hear Appeal Of Quebec Legislature's Kirpan Ban

    Power Outage At Vancouver International Airport Affecting Domestic Terminal, Some Flight Delays

    Power Outage At Vancouver International Airport Affecting Domestic Terminal, Some Flight Delays
    A power outage at Vancouver International Airport's domestic terminal forced a handful of flight cancellations and several delays Thursday morning.

    Power Outage At Vancouver International Airport Affecting Domestic Terminal, Some Flight Delays

    Meet The Surrey Mayor-Elect Doug Mccallum And His South Asian Team Members

    Former city mayor Doug McCallum made a stunning comeback in Surrey Saturday night and created arguably the biggest stir of election night in B.C.

    Meet The Surrey Mayor-Elect Doug Mccallum And His South Asian Team Members

    TELUS Is Giving An Unprecedented $120 Million To Help Vulnerable Youth Reach Their Full Potential

    TELUS launches the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, which provides grants to grassroots charities and gives kids a brighter future

    TELUS Is Giving An Unprecedented $120 Million To Help Vulnerable Youth Reach Their Full Potential

    Natural Gas In B.C. Limited Through The Winter After Pipeline Blast: FortisBC

    Natural Gas In B.C. Limited Through The Winter After Pipeline Blast: FortisBC
    SURREY, B.C. — A British Columbia natural gas supplier is warning its one million customers to expect reduced supplies and "challenges in times of high demand" as winter looms.

    Natural Gas In B.C. Limited Through The Winter After Pipeline Blast: FortisBC

    B.C. Jury Trial Hears Man Charged With Murder Confessing To Killing Girl, 12

    B.C. Jury Trial Hears Man Charged With Murder Confessing To Killing Girl, 12
      VANCOUVER — A man charged with killing a 12-year-old British Columbia girl provided details in a video seen in court, saying he abducted, sexually assaulted and strangled her near Merritt.

    B.C. Jury Trial Hears Man Charged With Murder Confessing To Killing Girl, 12

    PrevNext