Conservative leadership candidate Steven Blaney is vowing to go all-out on identity politics as he seeks to carve out a spot for himself in a crowded race, promising to reintroduce a Conservative government bill to bar voters from casting ballots with their faces covered, and threatening to use the ‘nuclear option’ — the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause — if the Supreme Court opposes his bill.

“So if necessary, once the bill is tabled I intend to use the notwithstanding clause if the bill was to be challenged in court,” Blaney told reporters at his first policy announcement as a candidate this morning. He would also ban niqabs in the public service. For now, Blaney said he will reintroduce Bill C-623 as a private member’s bill.

Speaking at length about preserving Canadian identity, Blaney said he intends to make sure that new Canadians “fully understand the scope of being a Canadian.”

He wants to make changes to both the Canadian citizenship test and the oath of citizenship. His ideas sound eerily similar to those of his rival candidate Kellie Leitch, who says she wants to somehow screen new immigrants for ‘anti-Canadian’ values. Blaney has simply substituted the word “values” for “principles.”

“It is critical that we make sure that new Canadians fully endorse Canadian principles that are the foundations of our society,” he said.

“We have a Canadian way of living” which includes respect for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and all laws, he said, adding that Canada needs to protect and preserve equality between men and women.

“We live in a free and democratic country and open society that is also protecting individual freedoms. My proposal this morning is to preserve our Canadian identity and especially toward those who are building Canada of tomorrow, including new Canadians,” he said.

“We need to make sure that our Canadians are well-informed of what it is to be a Canadian.”

Under Blaney’s leadership, newcomers would be tested in both written and oral skills in one of the two official languages and would also have to demonstrate “understanding and appreciation” of Canada’s core principles “which govern the lives of our citizens,” Blaney said.

Blaney proposes changing the citizenship oath to ensure future citizens become more familiar with and abide by Canada’s core principles, which he said would make their integration into Canadian society more successful.

Asked about Blaney’s intention to reintroduce C-623 at a press conference this morning, Conservative leadership candidate Michael Chong said, “I don’t think we should focus on those issues … The focus on my campaign will be on jobs, the economy, democratic reform, and environmental issues.”

Conservative leadership candidate Deepak Obhrai said he does not agree with Blaney’s niqab proposal. Obhrai tweeted, “I do not agree with Steven Blaney’s position on niqab. My campaign is based on inclusiveness and embracing diversity.”

Liberal MP Raj Grewal also weighed in on Twitter. Grewal said, “The Niqab is protected by the Canadian Charter, I will always fight for charter rights, we are stronger because of our differences.”