OTTAWA - The Conservative government plans to put an end to the controversy surrounding veiled women voting by introducing new measures in the next session of Parliament.
The commitment is contained in a leaked copy of Tuesday's throne speech, obtained by The Canadian Press.
"The integrity of our federal voting system will be further strengthened through measures to confirm the visual identification of voters,'' says the speech.
The controversy over veiled women at voting booths blew up last month when a ruling from Elections Canada permitted veiled women to cast ballots in three Quebec byelections. Such women were permitted to provide alternate means of identification.
Canada's chief electoral officer, Marc Mayrand, drew the ire of federal MPs at a House of Commons committee last month by refusing to budge on his ruling.
"I think I must rely on the will of Parliament as expressed by Parliament,'' Mayrand told the committee.
Members of all parties have supported requiring veiled women to bare their faces to identify themselves at polling booths.
The throne speech does not indicate what measures the government plans.
