Canada's immigration minister says new Canadians will have to remove any face-coverings, such as the Islamic niqab or burqa, while they take the oath of citizenship.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said he has received complaints from lawmakers and citizenship judges who say it is difficult to ensure that individuals whose faces are covered are actually reciting the oath.
Kenney says it is also a question of values. He says new Canadians should be taking the oath in view of their fellow citizens.
The location of the announcement was not without symbolism. The French-speaking province of Quebec has had debates over how much should Canada bend to accommodate newcomers.
AP