Mary Gleason

Mary Gleason: On Tuesday, the three justices ruled from the bench, saying they wanted to proceed quickly so that Zunera Ishaq, the woman who initially challenged the ban, can obtain citizenship in time to vote in the Oct. 19 federal election, according to CTV. Appeal Justice Mary Gleason, speaking on behalf of her two concurring judges, said her court saw no reason to interfere with the earlier lower court ruling. But the Conservative campaign vowed to fight back, saying uncovered faces at such ceremonies were "consistent with Canadian values of openness, social cohesion, and equality." The latest chapter in the Conservatives battle with the courts unfolded Tuesday when the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the government appeal of an earlier Federal Court ruling that said banning face coverings at such ceremonies was unlawful. Ishaq, a 29-year-old woman with devout Muslim beliefs who came to Ontario from Pakistan in 2008, refused to take part in a citizenship ceremony because she would have to show her face. One of her lawyers, Marlys Edwardh, said the Immigration Department would be contacted this week so she could attend a citizenship ceremony -- accompanied by her lawyers "just in case." A spokesman for Conservative Leader Stephen Harper expressed regret over the court ruling. "We understand the government is considering all legal options," spokesman Stephen Lecce said in an emailed statement from the Conservative campaign. "As the prime minister has said, most Canadians find it offensive that someone would hide their identity at the very moment where they are committing to join the Canadian family. The swift ruling left her almost speechless, but she said she looks forward to voting. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.