Judge once again suspends application of province’s face-covering law

Quebec’s law on religious neutrality forces everyone giving a public service to show their face

MONTREAL — A judge has once again ordered a stay on the provision of a controversial Quebec law prohibiting citizens from receiving or giving public services with their faces covered.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Marc-Andre Blanchard ruled today the legislation cannot fully enter into force until it passes judicial review, because of the irreparable harm it could cause to Muslim women.

Section 10 of Quebec’s law on religious neutrality, passed in October 2017, forces everyone to show their face when receiving or giving a public service.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims and other groups have challenged the law, arguing it violates the right to freedom of religion and to equality.

A judge suspended section 10 in December 2017 until the government published clear guidelines under which someone could apply for a religious accommodation.

The Quebec government published the guidelines in May, which were to come into force on July 1.

Judge Blanchard ruled today the guidelines are not clear enough, and confusion and uncertainty still exists regarding how the accommodation process will be applied.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims and other groups are asking for the court to declare the law unconstitutional.