WUNRN
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/16/canada-government-islamic-veil-niqab-ban-citizenship
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-niqab-poll-pco-1.3241895
Canada- Poll Support for Niqab Ban at Citizenship Ceremonies, But Court Says Ban Is Unlawful – Politically Divisive
By Dean Beeby, CBC News - September 24, 2015
The niqab has become a hot topic on the election campaign trail,
with leaders of the federal parties voicing support or opposition for the
government's attempt to ban Muslims from wearing the face covering at
citizenship ceremonies. (Patrick Doyle/Canadian Press)
A public-opinion poll ordered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
earlier this year found overwhelming support among Canadians for the
requirement that women remove their niqabs or burkas
at citizenship ceremonies.
The March telephone survey by Léger Marketing found 82 per cent
of Canadians favoured the policy somewhat or strongly, with just 15 per cent
opposed. Support was widespread, but especially strong in Quebec, where 93 per
cent were in favour of the requirement.
The government has tried to impose a ban on face coverings at
citizenship ceremonies, but the Federal Court ruled earlier this
month that such a ban is unlawful. The Conservatives have said they will
appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Léger survey results, delivered March 31 to the Privy
Council Office, were posted Thursday, the day of the first French-language
leaders' debate, on a government website under a policy that requires
publication of taxpayer-paid polls within six months.
CBC News had asked about the Léger poll results in June,
but a spokesman for the office at the time declined to provide details.
A taxpayer-funded poll, ordered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
and kept secret until Thursday, found wide support, among Quebecers especially,
for requiring the removal of niqabs during citizenship ceremonies.
The survey of 3,000 Canadians, plus a series of 12 related focus
groups, cost $133,000 and were last-minute additions to
the regular polling the prime minister's department commissions each year. In
2014-15, with an election in the offing, the department spent more than
$410,000 on polling, the highest level since 2008.
The survey and focus groups asked key questions about the
economy, Canada's military role in countering ISIS, Canada's efforts to assist
Ukraine and the niqab/burka question.
On the economy, low oil prices and a sagging dollar were largely
blamed for weak growth, and job creation was seen as a priority. The word
"fragile" was used frequently by respondents to describe the
economic climate.
Canada's contribution to airstrikes against ISIS got plaudits,
with 59 per cent of respondents voicing support compared with 37 per cent
who were opposed. The poll found 62 per cent supported economic sanctions
on Russia over its involvement in the conflict between Ukrainian
forces and pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine, but 50 per
cent of survey respondents opposed sending weapons and military supplies
to the Ukrainian government.
Léger says the results are accurate to within 1.8 percentage
points, 19 times out of 20.
The Léger survey and focus groups were not the only last-minute
additions to the regular spring and fall polls the Privy Council Office
approves months ahead of time. The government also added a $26,000
series of focus groups in the wake of the Oct. 22 shootings at Parliament Hill.
Pollster Stephen Kiar, CEO and owner of Ottawa-based Phoenix
SPI, says public-opinion research normally winds down as a federal election
approaches, but that fixed election dates may be changing the dynamics of
polling and advertising.
Harper told the House of Commons in March that the need to ban
the niqab is 'very easy to understand.' That same month Harper ordered a poll
of 3,000 Canadians about the policy. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
Knowing the election date well in advance means a longer
campaign period and more time to plan — and poll and advertise, he said.
"When you're the government in power, that gives you levers
… and the resources that go with being the governing party that you're able to
bring to bear in advance of the election," Kiar said.
The Privy Council Office also ordered a Harris Decima poll
in June this year that asked questions about taxes, ISIS and whether the Senate
should be abolished. Those results, and the cost to taxpayers, have not been
released publicly.
This advertisement for the Bloc Québécois asks whether it's
necessary to hide one's face in order to vote for the NDP, referring to NDP
Leader Tom Mulcair's view that niqabs should be allowed at citizenship
ceremonies. (BLOC.org)
In the current election campaign, the Conservative Party has
focused on issues for which the Léger survey found strong support:
job-creation, fighting ISIS and, more recently, the banning
of niqabs at citizenship ceremonies.
Léger also found strong support among Canadians for
the niqab ban in a separate poll conducted in March for the
Association for Canadian Studies. That survey of 1,700 Canadians found
seven out of 10 Canadians believe women should remove the niqab in such
circumstances.
A spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration, Nancy
Caron, says the department does not track the number of people who wear
full face coverings at citizenship ceremonies.
"Anecdotal evidence indicates the number is small and that the number of candidates who decline to unveil for the oath is smaller still," she said in an email.