The Couillard Liberals rejected an opposition motion Wednesday calling for the National Assembly to condemn the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision to allow the wearing of niqabs during citizenship ceremonies.
Coalition Avenir Québec MNA Nathalie Roy said the motion she presented read as follows: “That the National Assembly demand that the federal government pass, as soon as possible, a law to make it mandatory to uncover one’s face when taking an oath of citizenship”.
Premier Philippe Couillard pointed out the case is still in front of the courts. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government is appealing the ruling to the Supreme Court and has vowed to re-introduce niqab legislation within 100 days if the Conservatives are re-elected on Oct. 19.
“I want to say, very clearly, that our government, with I think the vast majority of Quebecers, formally objects to the idea of a person taking an oath of citizenship wearing a face covering. We will see how the situation unfolds in court,” Couillard said. “We will nevertheless continue to put forward our vision, which doesn’t ban women from getting jobs, but asks that public services be given to those who uncover their faces, which is elementary in a society where we need to talk.”
Roy said the Liberals’ rejection of the motion showed “lack of courage”, while PQ secularism critic Agnès Maltais pressed the Premier to put his “vision” in a letter to federal parties.
“We are in a federal election campaign. Quebecers need to know whether the new government will adhere to the idea that in Quebec, wearing a niqab to get a public service and during oath of citizenship ceremonies, it is not allowed.”
Maltais recalled that in 2005, the National Assembly passed a unanimous motion condemning the sharia islamic courts.