Niqabs in federal public service 'absolutely not an issue' union leader says

The leaders of the two largest federal public service unions say they are not aware of a single member who wears a niqab and accused Conservative LeaderStephen Harper of trying to distract voters with his plan toconsider a ban onthe wearing of face coverings in public sector work places.

• Harper to examine possible niqab ban for public servants
• Muslim women sound off on 'stupid' niqab debate
• Quebec tables newbill banning face coverings
• Read the Federal Court's niqab ruling

"It means nothing," saidDebiDaviau, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada.

"Obviously it's a tactic of the Conservatives' campaign and it's absolutely not an issue for us as federal public sector unions. We're staying focused on the task the task of ensuring that we get the change we want in this election so that we can be best positioned to deliver critical public services to Canadians, and theniqabjust doesn't factor into that."

Federal public service unions have had a tense relationship with the Conservative government on a range of issues, including cuts to the bureaucracy, the perceivedmuzzling ofgovernment scientists andproposed changes to civil servants' sick leave provisions, which havebecome the subject of a legal challengeunder the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Larry Rousseau,a regional vice-president for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, said theniqabdebate is not an issue union members are talking about.

"We will not be distracted by tactics of mass distraction,"he said. "Out with the old, in with the new."

PSAChas actively campaignedagainst the Conservativesovercuts to the bureaucracy.

Niqab debate

The niqab debate has become a divisive issue in this federal election campaign, after the Federal Court ruled to strike downa 2011 Conservative policy thatbans wearing aniqabwhile taking the citizenship oath.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May have openly opposed the ban, but Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has promised to taketheissue to the Supreme Court.

Only two womenare known to have decided not to go through with the ceremony because of the ban.

Harper has also said his partywill examine a wider ban on the niqab for federalpublic servants, in line with proposed Quebec legislation the federal Conservatives have publicly supported in the past.

No Conservative should ever be elected in the National Capital Region where there are 100,000 public servants.Union leaderDebiDaviau

"That's a matterwe're going to examine,"Harper said in an interview Tuesday withCBC'sRosemary Barton, host ofPower & Politics.

When confronted Wednesday with the union's comments that there are no known public servants who wearniqabs, Harper said he plans to look at the bill that has been tabled by the Quebec Liberals before taking further steps.

"The Liberal government in Quebec has brought forward legislation to require that people reveal their identity when delivering or receiving front-line service," he said.

"I believe the Quebec government has been handling this controversial issue in a very responsible manner and we will do exactly the same thing in Ottawa," he said.

Daviausaidher union is being politically active during a federal election campaign for the first time withradio ads and lawn signs that read"Vote for Public Services," because the issues they care about are being ignored.

"No Conservative should ever be elected in the National Capital Region where there are 100,000 public servants," she said. "This government's record on critical public services is absolutely atrocious, and today we're voting for the change we need to restore the balance of public services for future generations."