The feds are taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court; what a waste of time and bucks!
May I suggest a simple solution to this whole issue? I firmly believe that no one should be allowed to cover their face while taking the oath of Canadian citizenship, whether it be ceremonial or not.
The women have already agreed to remove their niqab in private to prove their identity. My solution is have them take the ceremonial oath at that time, in private, where they've already agreed to uncover their faces. They've already met every other condition to become a Canadian, why not allow them the right to have a private ceremony where they can remove their niqab comfortably?
It would be a compromise, to be sure, but isn't that what Canada is all about? We can come to a satisfactory agreement on these kind of things!
We compromised when the Sikh RCMP officers were finally allowed to wear their turbans. I don't believe the sanctity of the RCMP was affected in any way and it helped those officers in the performance of their duties. So; come on Mr. Kenney, sit down and talk to these two women who are involved and get a deal!
