Canada's national police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or The Mounties to allow Hijabs for its Muslim officers as part of the work uniform. However it is voluntary for the officers if they want to wear or not. This movement came after Scotland Police allowed to use Hijabs for its Muslim Women Officers.
The policy change was just recently approved by the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. On Wednesday, Scott Bardsley, a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, told the press that this change in police-uniform stipulations were made in the hopes of better reflecting the diversity of Canada, as well as encouraging more Muslim women to join the national organization.
“The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a progressive and inclusive police service that values and respects persons of all cultural and religious backgrounds," he told the AP in an email.
The Mounties developed a special hijab to be worn with their uniforms, Julie Gagnon, a spokesperson for the organization, explained. She noted that so far, no officer has requested to wear the hijab on duty since the policy was implemented in January.
Canada's open-minded policy finds itself in stark juxtaposition with the burkini ban that swept through an ever-increasing number of seaside French cities this summer before being overturned by officials just this past week. In contrast, when a few Canadian lawmakers called for their country to also outlaw the controversial full-body swimsuits worn by some Muslim women, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quickly dismissed the idea, citing the importance of cultural diversity and tolerance. Just add it to the every-expanding list of reasons we heart Trudeau.
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