OTTAWA—Canadians hoping to hear what the country’s voice of religious freedom thinks about the Conservatives’ proposed niqab ban are out of luck — at least until after the election.

Religious freedom ambassador Andrew Bennett is refusing interview requests during a federal election campaign where religious garb has become a central issue.

“Given the writ period, Ambassador Bennett is unavailable for an interview,” wrote John Babcock, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, in an email.

Babcock added that it was important to note the office has “an international mandate.”

It does not typically pronounce on issues of religious minority rights inside Canada’s borders, although has highlighted several events with Prime Minister Stephen Harpermeeting with religious leaders or his celebrating of certain religious holidays.

The Conservative government created the office in 2013 with a mandate to “advance fundamental Canadian values, including freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide.”

The office’s mandate states that it will focus specifically on “advocating on behalf of religious minorities under threat, opposing religious hatred and intolerance, and promoting pluralism abroad.”

At the outset of the marathon campaign, few predicted the niqab — a head covering worn by a fraction of Muslim women — to figure prominently in Canada’s 42nd federal election.

On Monday, a federal court refused the government’s request to keep the ban in place until the Supreme Court weighed in on the issue. The appeal court ruled there was no harm in allowing Zunera Ishaq, the woman who challenged the government’s 2011 ban, from becoming a citizen — and being eligible to vote on October 19.

On Tuesday, Harper told the CBC that the Conservatives would consider banning the niqab not just at citizenship ceremonies, but for all public servants. It’s not clear how many, if any, public servants wear a niqab.

The New Democrats and Liberals have both opposed the ban, although the NDP appear to have paid a larger price for their stance. The ban is wildly popular in Quebec, according to internal government polling, where the New Democrats made historic gains in 2011.

That polling, conducted for the Privy Council Office earlier this year, showed a strong majority of Canadians (82 per cent) support banning the niqab at citizenship ceremonies. The number 1 reason for supporting the ban (29 per cent), however, was so the women could be identified — which they already are, before the ceremony, no matter what they’re wearing when they swear allegiance to the Queen of Canada.

Other reasons offered include that the niqab violates Canada’s societal norms (14 per cent), that unveiling shows Muslim women adopt Canadian values (12 per cent), or that swearing allegiance while wearing a niqab violates some unspecified Canadian law (11 per cent).

http://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/2015/10/07/religious-freedom-ambassador-refuses-to-wade-into-niqab-debate.html