Quebec’s Justice Minister is trying to explain how the so-called niqab ban could be applied following widespread criticism.

Stephanie Vallee says under the law, Muslim women will only be required to unveil their faces briefly and only when interacting directly with employees to access public services.

She details that veiled individuals must remove their niqab – a religious face covering with only a slit for the eyes – when verification of photo identification by a government agent is required to access public transit, check out library books or to register at a medical clinic or hospital.

She says these people can cover their faces once they have taken their seat on the bus, while browsing the bookshelves or while siting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office.

Quebec’s face veil ban may face a Supreme Court challenge.