And worth every penny.
Niqab-ban case has cost government $257,000 so far
The government has so far spent at least $257,000 on its legal fight to prevent would-be Canadians from taking the oath of citizenship while wearing face coverings.
The cost estimate is contained in a government response to an order-paper question filed in April by Liberal MP Sean Casey.
The news comes on the same day the federal government says it will ask a judge to put a hold on a related court decision allowing citizenship candidates to wear face coverings while taking the oath.
Conservative candidate Denis Lebel, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Quebec lieutenant, said the government will seek a stay of a recent Federal Court of Appeal decision this week quashing the so-called niqab ban.
In that case, Zunera Ishaq, a devout, 29-year-old Muslim woman from Pakistan, successfully argued the government ban violates the Citizenship Act, which says candidates must be allowed the greatest possible religious freedom when they take the oath.
Before writing and passing her citizenship test two years ago, Ishaq removed her niqab for an official, but legally fought having to do so at a public oath-taking ceremony.
Niqab-ban case has cost government $257,000 so far
Niqab-ban case has cost government $257,000 so far
The government has so far spent at least $257,000 on its legal fight to prevent would-be Canadians from taking the oath of citizenship while wearing face coverings.
The cost estimate is contained in a government response to an order-paper question filed in April by Liberal MP Sean Casey.
The news comes on the same day the federal government says it will ask a judge to put a hold on a related court decision allowing citizenship candidates to wear face coverings while taking the oath.
Conservative candidate Denis Lebel, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Quebec lieutenant, said the government will seek a stay of a recent Federal Court of Appeal decision this week quashing the so-called niqab ban.
In that case, Zunera Ishaq, a devout, 29-year-old Muslim woman from Pakistan, successfully argued the government ban violates the Citizenship Act, which says candidates must be allowed the greatest possible religious freedom when they take the oath.
Before writing and passing her citizenship test two years ago, Ishaq removed her niqab for an official, but legally fought having to do so at a public oath-taking ceremony.
Niqab-ban case has cost government $257,000 so far
