Agreed, it is an intrusive thing for the government to be mandating clothing.  It really should not be allowed for government to do such overreach.  Nevertheless the sentiment in Quebec is valid: the niqab and the burka are abhorrent things in our free and democratic culture.  Perhaps not worthy of legal sanction, but definitely worthy of social disgust.  Like free speech, individuals should be free to hold and speak their abhorrent views, but the rest of us are free to be disgusted about it and say as much, socially.