Quebec law on face-coverings is ‘overkill,’ Kenney suggests
But ‘I think it’s common courtesy to show your face’ in certain situations, UCP leadership candidate says
United Conservative Party leadership candidate Jason Kenney says Quebec’s Bill 62 is “overkill” but people should remove face coverings when interviewed by government officials.
The law passed by the Quebec legislature last week bans people from providing or receiving public services — including riding on public transit — with their faces covered. It is widely seen as aimed at Muslim women who wear the niqab or other face-covering.
As the federal Citizenship and Immigration minister in the former Conservative government, Kenney implemented a ban on the niqab being worn in citizenship ceremonies. The ban was later overturned in Federal Court, a decision upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal.
Kenney told Postmedia on Monday that he believes the Quebec legislation is “unnecessary.”
“I do think it’s totally legitimate to ask people ... at certain points of interface between an individual and government office, it’s legitimate to ask them to show their face. That can be done as a matter of policy or common courtesy. It doesn’t require a bill. I think it’s overkill,” he said.
Kenney said that when he was the federal minister, it was required that individuals who were interviewed by immigration officers removed face-coverings. He said that some Muslim countries, such as Turkey, have completely banned the niqab.
“They see it as a sign of treating women like property rather than people ... this is not religiously-mandated, it is a cultural practice,” said Kenney, who served as an MP for nearly two decades before becoming leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives.
“Having said all that, I don’t want to regulate what people wear in a free society. But if you’re sitting down for an interview with a government official on something, I think it’s common courtesy to show your face.”
UCP members will vote this week to select the first leader of the new party from among Kenney, former Wildrose leader Brian Jean and Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer. The results will be announced Saturday.
In a statement from his campaign, Jean said he did not want to see the “divisive politics” of the Quebec legislation come to Alberta.
“I would hope that as a province we would focus on more significant issues than identity politics,” he said.
“I believe strongly in religious and personal freedoms and think government’s role is to protect the guaranteed rights granted under the charter.”
Schweitzer’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard has defended Bill 62 by saying it is necessary for reasons related to communication, identification and security.
But it has come under attack as a violation of religious freedom and coercive in telling women how to dress.
Premier Rachel Notley told reporters last week that the Quebec bill “smacked of Islamophobia” and would further isolate some women who are already marginalized.
“The passage of that bill is a sad day for Canada,” she said.
They see it as a sign of treating women like property rather than people ... this is not religiously-mandated, it is a cultural practice. Having said all that, I don’t want to regulate what people wear in a free society.