Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails

(CTV) A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.

“We see the division right now that’s going on. It’s not healthy and this will just divide the community even more,” Ford said at an unrelated news conference on Thursday before Opposition Leader Marit Stiles presented her motion.

On Wednesday, Ford called on House Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse the ban on the scarf, which is worn by Palestinians, Muslims and Arabs across the globe. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner also called for the ban’s reversal.

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