Here's an issue I wouldn't drop....

We definately need legislation to make it clear that veiled women reveal their faces to vote...

The federal government has quietly dropped the idea of forcing veiled women to show their faces if they want to vote in Canadian elections.

The loss of interest comes just as the issue of face coverings is heating up overseas, with President Nicolas Sarkozy declaring that the Islamic burka is "not welcome" in France.

Steven Fletcher, Canada's minister of state for democratic reform, confirmed Thursday that the government has no plan to proceed with legislation requiring voters to uncover their faces.

"We have other priorities as far as increasing voter participation and with the expanded voting opportunities legislation," he said in an interview.

"And that is our focus. That obviously will effect a lot more people."

A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper maintained the minority government still supports the idea of forcing voters to reveal their faces.

But Dimitri Soudas said it would be pointless to proceed with legislation since all three opposition parties have signalled they wouldn't support it.

"I'm telling you that we haven't dropped that idea," said Soudas. "The bottom line is even if we were to proceed with legislation, it would be voted down immediately."

Let's make this an election issue...