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Women's right to give evidence in a niqab defended by CCLA

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association will present arguments before the Ontario Court of Appeal regarding whether a muslim woman, who is a complainant in a sexual assault case, must remove her niqab in order to testify.  A niqab is a garment, often worn for religious reasons, that covers the facial features below the eyes.  Although [...]

CCLA submits brief opposing 'niqab ban bill'

The CCLA has submitted a brief to the Quebec Legislative Assembly expressing serious concerns about the constitutionality of Bill 94, proposed legislation that would require all those requesting a wide range of public services in Quebec to show their faces.  As outlined in previous CCLA statements, the organization believes that the Bill is unnecessary, dangerously [...]

CCLA to advocate for equal access to civil marriage before Court of Appeal

Since the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2004, there has been an ongoing controversy in Saskatchewan regarding whether civil marriage commissioners should be required to solemnize same sex marriages. The government of Saskatchewan has asked the Court of Appeal to examine the constitutionality of two proposed bills that would permit civil [...]

CCLA opposes National Assembly Bill 94 (the Niqab bill)

Bill 94, tabled last week in Québec City, is entitled An Act to establish guidelines governing accommodation requests within the Administration and certain institutions.  Its central provision, section 6, goes as follows:

6. The practice whereby a personnel member of the Administration or an institution and a person to whom services are being provided by [...]

CCLA to intervene in 'Marriage Commissioners' reference

CCLA has been granted intervenor status in the May, 2010 reference to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.  The government of Saskatchewan has asked the Court to examine the constitutionality of two proposed bills that would permit civil marriage commissioners to refuse to perform marriages which run contrary to their personal religious beliefs.  Although the bills [...]