Amid criticism, Quebec explains rules of its face-covering ban

Quebec Justice MinisterStphanieVallesought to clarify the province's controversial face-covering ban on Tuesday, saying the law will only apply when it's required for communication, identification or security reasons.

At a news conference that lasted more than an hour,Valleexplainedhow the new lawwill be implemented in specific cases. She said the law, which pertains to those giving or receiving public services,is not meant to be repressive.

"I'm sorry that it wasn't as clear," she said."Maybe what I'm doing today I should have done the day after we adopted the bill."

Bill 62 has been the subject of questions and confusion since it became law lastWednesday in Quebec's National Assembly.

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Civil rights advocates have accused the province of targeting Muslim women who wear a niqabor burka, while municipal politicians have said it's unfair to ask public servants, such as bus drivers or library workers, to enforce the law.

Hospitals, libraries,public transit

Vallesaid Tuesday aMuslim woman wearing a niqabor burkawouldonly be required to uncover her faceto take public transit if a photo ID is required, as in the case of those paying a reducedstudent fare.

The same rules would apply to someone wearing sunglasses and a scarf, she said.

As well, an individual would not be required to uncover theface for the duration of the ride on a bus or Metro, she said, in a departure from what she hadpreviouslytoldCBCNews.

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At public libraries, a person with a covered face is free to roam the stacks but would be required to uncover their face to communicate with staff,Vallesaid.

At ahospital, a person requiring emergency care wouldn't be turned away because of a face covering, she said.

"People will have to have their face uncovered when they are in direct contact with an employee but when they return for example to the waiting room, they will not be obliged to have their face uncovered,''she said.

Quebec justice minister answers questions on face-covering law

7 years ago

Duration 1:00

Quebec Justice Minister Stphanie Valle explained how the province's new face-covering law will be implemented in specific cases.

Vallesaid the law is in effect and applies across the province. But she also said a Muslim woman wearing a niqab or burkawould be eligible for an exemption to the law on religious grounds.

There are no sanctions listed in the legislation for those who don't comply.

'A comedy act'

The government's two main opponents,the Coalition Avenir Qubec and the Parti Qubcois, have argued the Liberals didn't go far enough.

After thenews conference, they pounced on Vallee, with the CAQ's Nathalie Roy calling the justice minister'schange of tune "a mess" and a "comedy act."

She saidVallehad said during hours of committee hearings on the bill that the ban would apply throughout the time of service, and now she's backtracking because of the backlash.

The PQ's Jean-Franois Lise said he's "ashamed" of a government that's unable to stand up and defend its laws.

The left-leaning Qubec Solidaire also voted against the law, calling it "absurd and impossible to apply," and arguing it's incoherent to legislate on the clothing a tiny religious minority wears while a crucifix hangs in the National Assembly.

A motion to debate thatissue was shot down by the Liberals on Tuesday.

Law aims to address decade-old debate

The guidelines were originally set to be releasedby next July, after a round of consultations.But that timeline wasmoved to Tuesday in attempt to quelluproar over the law.

The law has been criticized bythe premiers of Ontario and Alberta, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre,and citizens, who have held protests to show their opposition.

Following Tuesday's clarifications, Coderresaid he still doesn't "think it is valid."

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Prime Minister JustinTrudeauhas said governments shouldn't tell womenwhat they can and cannotwear.

But there is support in Quebec for what the law is trying to achieve.

According to anAngus Reid poll published before Bill 62 became law, 87 per cent of Quebecers agree with its objectives.

The law,Valleargued, represents a "well-balanced response" to a debate over the reasonable accommodation of minorites that has been ongoingin the province over the past 10 years.

She saidQuebec is blazing a trail on the question of religious neutrality, as it did when it became the first province to pass doctor-assisted dying legislation.

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