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Negative Liberty In Canada

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Negative Liberty In Canada
In 2011, then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government announced a new law, stating that no individual can be permitted to veil their face while taking the citizenship oath. However, in 2015, a federal judge ruled that that law was in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and abolished it (Isai 2015) while subsequently, candidate Justin Trudeau had expressed his support for that verdict. Albeit that, many Canadian have been expressing their concern that allowing the traditions of ‘an anti-woman’ culture be present at a sacred ceremony that promises to adhere to the free and accepting laws of Canada, would compromise said laws. An overwhelming 93% of Canadian Citizens in a government-funded poll supported the requirement …show more content…
This initially sparked controversy when there was a flurry of reaction to Stephen Harper's remarks on Twitter. The most popular Islamic clothing is a hijab that covers the head-and-shoulders; piece of cloth that covers the face, and the niqab that covers the entire face with the exception of few countries like Saudi Arabia where it is the law to wear the niqab. However, it is entirely up to Muslim women whether they choose to wear it or not. This situation is best described according to Isaiah Berlin’s “two concepts of liberty” (Swift 2014, 58-60).
These two concepts of Liberty are: negative Liberty and positive liberty. Negative liberty can be defined as the freedom from outside interference. Whereas, positive Liberty is the freedom to act upon one's will. The distinction between these two concepts is freedom from something and freedom to be able to do something (Swift 2014, 58-60). So, for instance, in the language of negative Liberty with regards to what Harper stated, one might say, yes, I will abide to the Canadian laws and respect its cultural values. But at the same time falling victim or feeling as though they are being labelled and oppressed by society, thereby …show more content…
The niqab is very rare in Canada with a smaller estimate of women on average adorning it. Which is why Harper's comments upset a national Muslim group that says it's a woman's right to make that choice, whether you choose to wear the niqab or not it is a woman’s choice at the end of the
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