New Canadians will be required to remove veils before swearing the oath of citizenship, Jason Kenney, the minister of citizenship and immigration announced on Monday.
Mr. Kenney said he had heard concern from citizenship judges that some Muslim women wearing face-covering garments may not actually be reciting the oath when taking part in the ceremony.
“They told me last month that it’s a fairly common problem. Every week, in every region of the country, we’re dealing with situations where applicants arrive with a veil on,” Mr. Kenney said. “Frankly, I found it bizarre that the rules allowed people to take the oath with a veil on.”
In recent years, the face-covering garments worn by some Muslim women have come under increasing scrutiny, as governments and courts have wrangled over when women should be allowed to cover their faces.
Just last week, the Supreme Court of Canada heard an Ontario case over a woman who insisted on wearing the all-covering niqab while testifying at a sexual assault trial. Quebec has banned face coverings for people receiving some government services, and those providing them. Two Conservative attempts to ban veiled voting have stalled before becoming law in recent years.
Mr. Kenney, who made the announcement in Montreal, dismissed questions of religious freedom.
“When Muslim women do the Haj (pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia) they’re required not to wear a veil. They’re required to show their face,” he said. “The idea this is a religious requirement I do not accept.”
Additionally, Canadian law takes precedence over religious edict, Mr. Kenney said. He also announced measures to boost language testing for new immigrants.
Source: The Globe and Mail
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