Farhat Mirza, 25, vice president of the Council for the advancement of Muslim professionals in Montreal, poses with her Niqab (Peter Mccabe/CP)

Muslim women and others with concealing headwear will have to uncover their faces when they deal with Quebec government services, under landmark legislation tabled Wednesday in the province's legislature.

The bill says people obtaining -- or delivering -- services at places like the provincial health or auto-insurance boards will need to do so with their faces in plain view.
The legislation says people's face coverings will not be tolerated if they hinder communication or visual identification. The traditional Muslim niqab shows little more than a woman's eyes.

Of the more than 118,000 visitors to the health board's Montreal office in 2008-09 only 10 were niqab wearers who asked for special dispensation.

Quebec is drawing a line in defence of two principles, gender equality and secular public institutions, Premier Jean Charest said at a news conference Wednesday morning. "This is a symbol of affirmation and respect -- first of all for ourselves, and also for those to whom we open our arms," Charest told reporters.

Read more

Take our poll:

Poll is not scientific. It is based on readers' votes.