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Where does our elected officials stand on bill 21?
12-15-2021
On December 6, CBC published an article, “It's been 6 months since members of the Afzaal family in London, Ont., were killed. What's changed?” The honest answer to this question is, nothing!
In the same vein, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, "Together we will take action. Together we will find our way forward." Yet, the federal government has not taken any quantifiable action to support its vows taken.
Trudeau government’s hypocrisy is exposed where on one hand he “vows” to fight Islamophobia. Yet, on the other hand he remains tone-deaf to all the calls being made by Canadian Muslims asking the Trudeau government to challenge Quebec’s Bill 21 that prevents minorities from receiving government services, including getting on the public bus, if they choose to adorn religious symbol, such as hijab, kippa or turban.
Just two days ago, PM Trudeau once again excused himself and opted to remain on sidelines, stating, he won’t step into bill 21 debate to avoid triggering jurisdictional spat with Quebec.
After the removal of a Muslim teacher from her job, because she chose to wear the Hijab. Fresh calls are being made both from within the Liberal caucus, especially Ms. Salma Zahid, who wears a Hijab, and even by Conservative MP’s to challenge Quebec’s controversial secularism law.
The only Muslim elected Liberal MP have demonstrated boldness to ask PM to challenge the controversial law is Ms. Zahid. The rest have remained mum on this issue.
The strongest voices have been from the opposition Conservative benches, leading the charge, BC MP. Mark Strahl, and Muslim Conservative Senator, Salma Ataullahjan, who released a statement calling Bill 21 “discrimination and racist.”
"We need to work every day to ensure Ontario is a safe and inclusive home for everyone who lives here," said Ontario Premier Doug Ford on June 8.. "I want every single Muslim family to know that we're with them, we'll always have your backs." Same could be said about the Ontario provincial government.
On December 11, MLA Rachna Singh - The BC Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism and the B.C. Government held consultation meeting with the members of the BC Muslim Community to provide community feedback on upcoming provincial anti-racism legislation.
Although all these efforts by provincial and federal legislators are welcome news and are being appreciated. It all seems like a “lip-service.” There is not a single legislative body in Canada, federal or provincial, has taken the challenge to combat Islamophobia head-on. They recognize the existence of racism within the Canadian society as an important and urgent matter. They propose legislations, but all within the confine of larger context i.e. “Anti-Racism legislations,” hold “Joint-Summits.” However, remain tone-deaf when Canadian Muslims demand a stand-alone separate legislation, such as Anti-Semitism laws etc. to deal with Islamophobia, and to address the issues being faced by Canadian Muslims on daily basis. They even shy away from allocating financial resources, or initiate programs to educate mainstream Canadians about Islam and Muslims.
The Canadian Muslims are left on their own to fend for themselves to gather and spend resources programs which both the federal and provincial governments should be undertaking.
Fortunately, leading Muslim organizations, such as Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) and National Council of Canadian Muslims, NCCM have stepped up to the plate to fill the void left behind by the federal and provincial governments. They should be commended for their efforts and we all have an obligation to financially support these organizations doing the work of the government on behalf of all Canadian Muslims.
There are some provincial governments that have stepped up to the plate with funding to counter Islamophobia in partnership with the leading Muslim organizations.
In Alberta, provincial government launched a “A new court support program for women of African descent has been launched to combat anti-Black and Islamophobic hate crimes in Alberta.”
“The program will help Black women experiencing hate-motivated violence, systemic racism, discrimination, or who are fleeing domestic violence in Alberta, navigate the legal system.”
Similarly, in Ontario, “MAC received a $225,000 grant from the Ontario Ministry of Education as part of the government of Ontario plan to invest into countering Islamophobia and ensuring classrooms are free from discrimination as announced in June 2021.”
Incidentally, the two leading provincial government, Alberta and Ontario, willing to put the money where their mouth is are Conservative governments, and certainly not the Liberals or the NDP, which enjoys unconditional support from the Canadian Muslims on election day.
Our research also netted information from the federal government website indicating that there has been substantial amount of funding provided to by the federal government to numerous Muslim organizations, including one in B.C. to combat Islamophobia. However, we have not yet inquired how the funding was utilized.
In addition, Peel School District on a municipal level has also begun implementing anti-islamophobia strategy, which include mandatory training for all PDSB staff.
The pace at which government officials at all levels are moving to combat Islamophobia is very slow. There are “vows” and rhetoric of empty promises, every time an outrageous incident of Islamophobia occurs on Canadian soil, such as the Quebec Mosque, or London terrorist attack. However, the outpouring show of solidarity and commitment fizzle away just as fast as they rise.
Let’s face it, no elected official, or government possess the moral will to combat Islamophobia. It is up to Canadian Muslims to find a solution to combat Islamophobia and educate Canadians about the beauty of Islam while continuing the struggle to getting our elected official to discharge their legal, moral, and ethical obligation towards Canadian Muslims.
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