There’s no doubt about it. This election has brought up the big issues for Canadians.
The shrinking middle class, taking control of climate change, and apparently, what a woman wears on her face during a one-minute citizenship oath.
That’s the impression you’d have if you watched the French language leaders’ debate this week.
Conservative leader Stephen Harper and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe found themselves natural allies in going after the niqab, the face veil worn by a small fraction of Muslim women.
Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms makes it amply clear: People can practise their religion in any way they like, so long as it doesn’t infringe on the rights of others or violate any laws. If the niqab is a symbol of oppression of women, like the PM and Duceppe are insisting, why are we granting citizenship to the man who is doing the oppressing?
And if it’s women’s issues that are going to decide this election, there are probably more pressing ones, like addressing why Aboriginal women are disappearing and being murdered in hugely disproportionate numbers.
At best, this is a distraction from the real issues. At worst, we worry this is simply a dog whistle meant to motivate racists into the ballot booth.
Thankfully, we have a dozen candidates here who are more than happy to talk about those real issues.
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