> A TIMELINE OF INCIDENTS WHERE FACE COVERINGS AND POLITICS HAVE CROSSED PATHS

September 2013: Parti Québécois government unveils the controversial charter of “Quebec values” to ban prominent religious symbols from government offices.

April 2014: The Parti Québécois, led by Pauline Marois, is trounced in a provincial election, losing to the Liberals led by Philippe Couillard.

October 2014: Mississauga resident Zunera Ishaq takes the federal government to court over a policy that forbids wearing the face-covering veil while taking the oath of citizenship, arguing that the ban breaches her Charter rights and fails to accommodate her religious beliefs and dress code.

February 2015: Federal Court rules that it is “unlawful” for the federal government to mandate new citizens to remove the veil while taking the oath of citizenship. Prime Minister Stephen Harper vows to appeal the decision, saying that it’s “offensive” that people not show their face.

September 2015: The Federal Court of Appeal quashes government’s attempts to ban face coverings. Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announces that the government will seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. The government seeks an interim court ruling to set aside the court of appeal ruling allowing face coverings while taking the oath of citizenship.

October 2015: Harper ramps up debate, saying he is studying whether to introduce a law — like Quebec’s — that would require Muslim women who wear a niqab to unveil their faces when delivering public services as an employee of the federal government, or receiving them as a citizen.