Protests of the province's controversial new law banning face-coverings in many public spaces are picking up momentum.
Friday saw protests on bus routes and social media against Bill 62, which forces people giving or receiving public services, including the use of mass transit, to show their entire face. The bill is widely seen as targetting a small number of conservative Muslim women who wear face-veils like the niqab or burqa.
Now a petition against the law has surfaced as well, addressed to Premier Phillipe Couillard and Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée.
Today, forty-eight hours after that online petition was launched against the law, it has amassed over 10,000 signatures.
An attached letter, which will be sent to the Premier's and Justice Minister's offices after the online signing period for the petition has closed, points out that for many women who wear a face-veil, the new law "could severely impact their ability to go to school, get a job, actively participate in our democracy and guarantee their health and well-being."
The thousands who have signed the bill are calling on the government to both immediately suspend the law's application and guarantee "the freedoms of religion and expression for those who choose to cover their face." It also asks the province to "recognize the discriminatory nature of Bill 62" and "the multicultural nature of the province."