(Western Standard) Nearly two-fifths of Canadians hold an unfavourable view of Islam, according to a new study from the Angus Reid Institute. In total, 39% of those surveyed held a “negative” or “very negative” view towards the religion amid ongoing discussions across […]
(Canadian Press) The federal Conservatives are trying to reassure the World Sikh Organization of Canada that the party remains opposed to Quebec’s secularism law after its MPs voted in support of a provision the province used to create it. On Monday, the […]
(Montreal Gazette) Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi had some choice words for both federal and provincial politicians, who he says are capitalizing on anti-Islamic sentiment to score political points. Nenshi, the first person of Muslim faith to be elected as mayor of […]
(Global News) Canada’s first-ever special representative on combating Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, should be given “a chance” to do her job, Justice Minister David Lametti says. Elghawaby apologized on Wednesday for her past remarks about Quebec, which she made in an op-ed she […]
(CBC) The federal government’s new anti-Islamophobia representative Amira Elghawaby apologized Wednesday for past remarks about the prevalence of anti-Islam sentiment in Quebec. Elghawaby, who was appointed the special representative on combating Islamophobia last week, made the remarks before meeting with Bloc Quebecois […]
(CBC) The Quebec government is calling on the federal government to withdraw its support of Amira Elghawaby, the new representative to combat Islamophobia, only four days after she was first appointed. This comes a day after her attendance at the sixth commemoration […]
(CBC) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of a special representative on combating Islamophobia that will advise the federal government on how to better fight discrimination against the Muslim community. Human rights activist Amira Elghawaby will be responsible for serving “as […]
(CBC) As arguments wrapped at the Quebec Court of Appeal Wednesday for the legal challenge to the province’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — the panel of judges hinted that the case hinges on whether the bill disproportionately discriminates against Muslim women who wear the […]
(CBC) English-language school boards argued before the Quebec Court of Appeal Wednesday they should be exempt from Quebec’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — because religious diversity is part of the cultural heritage of English schools in Quebec. “The examples […]
(CBC) As the court challenge of Quebec’s secularism law — commonly known as Bill 21 — continues this week before the Quebec Court of Appeal, groups contesting the law argued Tuesday Bill 21 overwhelmingly discriminates against Muslim women. The Quebec government and several civil […]
(CBC) Opponents of Quebec’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — argued before the province’s Court of Appeal Monday that the CAQ government went too far in pre-emptively invoking the constitutional notwithstanding clause in order to protect the law from court […]
(CityNews) Next month’s provincial election will have tremendous implications for Quebec’s Muslim community, according to the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM). The NCCM released its Quebec election policy guide this week, ahead of the Oct. 3 vote. The guide lays out […]
(Canadian Press) Religious minorities in Quebec are feeling less safe, less accepted and less hopeful since the province passed its secularism law three years ago, a new survey suggests. The results published Wednesday by Léger and the Association for Canadian Studies reveal […]
(CityNews) Communities in Quebec are speaking out as the province’s premier said he and his party oppose multiculturalism. Quebec’s Premier François Legault said recently that he and his party oppose multiculturalism, adding that in Quebec there is only one culture that is […]
(CBC) Maram Makhlouf, a Grade 6 student, moved to Quebec from Germany about three years ago and on Thursday she was in a Montreal park with her family celebrating the province’s national holiday, or Fête nationale. She said the day is “really important to […]
(Global News) There will be one less teacher wearing a religious symbol in Montreal schools next year. Haniyfa Scott, who wears a hijab, is retiring after her more than 40-year career. “I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” said Scott. The […]
(CTV) This week marks the third anniversary of Quebec’s controversial Bill 21 — which bans some public workers from wearing religious symbols — passing into law. On Saturday, dozens gathered outside the metro station in Montreal’s Park Extension to denounce the bill. […]
(Canadian Press) The federal government will join a legal challenge to Quebec’s religious symbols law if it reaches the country’s highest court, Justice Minister David Lametti said Wednesday. “When it arrives at the Supreme Court of Canada, it is by definition a […]
(CBC) Conservative leadership candidate Patrick Brown launched an attack Monday on his opponent Pierre Poilievre, accusing the Conservative MP of supporting “discriminatory policies” that target immigrants. Poilievre, the MP for the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton considered the front-runner in the race, pitched new […]
(Canadian Press) Organizations representing Sikhs and Muslims in Canada say they want Conservative leadership hopefuls to take a strong stand against Quebec’s controversial secularism law. Balpreet Singh, a spokesman for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, said when he met with Erin […]
(Canadian Press) A new poll suggests support may have slipped for a key element of Quebec’s secularism law, known as Bill 21. A web panel survey carried out by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies earlier this month found 55 per […]
(Canadian Press) Canada’s special envoy on combating antisemitism has sharply criticized as “discriminatory” Quebec’s law banning teachers and some other public-sector employees from wearing religious symbols at work. Prof. Irwin Cotler, who was appointed by the prime minister to fight antisemitism, has […]
(CTV) A recent letter published in a leading Canadian medical journal has stirred up debate — and controversy — around the hijab and prompted calls for a full retraction. On Dec. 20, the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) published a letter, with […]
(Toronto Sun) Last week, a Quebec school teacher was removed from her classroom for wearing the hijab. Quebec’s controversial secularist law, Bill 21, prohibits religious symbols in public places. The law has many human rights activists and federal parliamentarians on edge. MPs […]
(CBC) The interim chair for the Western Québec School Board says the school board made a mistake in hiring Fatemeh Anvari, the Chelsea, Que., elementary school teacher who had to be removed from her position under Quebec’s secularism law because she wears […]
(Canadian Press) Premier François Legault said Friday a school board in western Quebec should never have hired a woman who had to be removed from her teaching duties because she wears a hijab. Legault said the province’s law restricting religious symbols, known […]
(CTV) Parents and students at an elementary school in Chelsea, Que., say they are shocked a teacher was removed from the classroom for wearing a hijab. The Western Quebec School Board confirms the Grade 3 teacher at Chelsea Elementary School was removed […]
(Canadian Press) The Conservative MP leading outreach efforts for leader Erin O’Toole says a six-year-old promise to create a “barbaric cultural practices” hotline still hangs over the party’s attempts to rebuild relationships with racialized communities today. “It’s there,” Tim Uppal says. “It […]
(CBC) Quebec’s English school boards will have to abide by the province’s secularism law, known as Bill 21, until challenges against and in favour of the law are heard in court. The province’s Court of Appeal has rejected a request by the […]
(CBC) The English Montreal School Board was before the Quebec Court of Appeal Monday, asking for an acceleration of its exemption to Bill 21, the controversial law that prevents some civil servants in positions of authority — including teachers — from wearing religious […]
(Canadian Press) Dareen Shilbayeh can’t stop herself from looking over her shoulder while out in public. The London, Ont., resident who wears a hijab says she’s been worried she’ll be targeted because of her faith ever since a Muslim family was killed […]
(iPolitics) A federal candidate for the Bloc Québécois (BQ) has been writing messages with “Islamophobic” undertones on Twitter and Facebook for years. Ensaf Haidar, 42, became the BQ’s nominee for southern Quebec’s Sherbrooke riding last month. Her husband Raif Badawi was arrested […]
(Global News) Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says he hasn’t “ruled out” federal intervention to challenge Bill 21 in court. The contentious bill, also known as Quebec’s “secularism bill,” is legislation across the province that prohibits public service workers, including teachers, lawyers and […]
(CBC) Three months after all major party leaders gave emotional speeches at a vigil in London, Ontario, for the four members of the [Afzaal] family who were killed in a drive-by attack, the threat of Islamophobic violence still hasn’t emerged as an […]
(Canadian Press) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called out federal security and tax agencies during a national summit on Islamophobia, saying they must do more to put an end to anti-Muslim sentiments in Canada. Speaking to the meeting organized by the government, Trudeau […]
(CBC) The head of a group representing Muslim people in Quebec says many members are hopeful there will be a plan for concrete actions coming out of Thursday’s national summit on Islamophobia — and that several specific issues relating to the province will […]
(Global News) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Islamophobia has been fed by populism and the politics of division. “There are politicians who have been stoking hatred and division that we as a government have been pushing back against,” said Trudeau in an […]
(Canadian Press) A national strategy to fight anti-Muslim hate across society is one of 61 recommendations released Monday by the National Council of Canadian Muslims ahead of a summit on Islamophobia to be held later this week. The organization hosted events on […]
(CBC) The vehicle attack in London, Ont., earlier this week, which killed all but one young member of the Afzaal family, was the third time in the last four years that Muslims in Canada have been murdered because of their faith. Since […]
(Canadian Press) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the habit of wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic might be changing Quebecers’ views on the province’s religious symbols ban. He was asked about Quebec’s secularism law, Bill 21, during a news conference […]
(CBC) Quebec’s attorney general filed a notice of appeal Friday regarding the Superior Court decision on April 20, which upheld most, but not all, of the province’s controversial secularism law enacted under the Coalition Avenir Québec government. In that ruling, Justice Marc-André Blanchard […]
(Canadian Press) Two groups that unsuccessfully challenged Quebec’s religious symbols law in court say they’ll be appealing last month’s ruling. The National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association say in a statement today the law known as Bill […]
(CBC) Amar Al-Shakfa dropped off her CV at a Montreal school on Wednesday, a day after learning English school boards would be exempt from the province’s ban on religious symbols under a new court ruling. Al-Shakfa, a 25-year-old Montrealer who wears a […]
(Global News) After a Quebec Superior Court judge rendered a decision upholding most of the Legault government’s religious symbols ban for public employees, a new chapter in the legal battle over Bill 21 is set to begin. Coalition Inclusion Quebec, a group […]
(CBC) Seeking re-election in October 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau baited his opponents over their lack of commitment to a court challenge against Bill 21, the controversial Quebec secularism law that bans public servants from wearing religious symbols at work. “I am […]
(CBC) Quebec’s secularism law violates the basic rights of religious minorities in the province, but those violations are permissible because of the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause, a Superior Court judge ruled on Tuesday. But the ruling by Justice Marc-André Blanchard also declared that […]
(Montreal Gazette) A highly anticipated legal decision on Quebec’s religious symbols law is expected to be issued on Tuesday. Quebec Superior Court Justice Marc-André Blanchard heard arguments last winter for and against Bill 21, the controversial secularism law adopted by the Legault […]
(Montreal Gazette) Amnesty International is condemning Canada’s record on its treatment of First Nations peoples and minority rights and has singled out Quebec for the adoption of Bill 21. The human rights organization’s criticisms were contained in its annual report made public […]
(Canadian Press) The Quebec government does not believe its secularism law violates freedom of religion, but rather it serves to frame it, one of its lawyers told a court Wednesday. As those defending the law began final arguments in the court challenge, […]
(Canadian Press) When the Quebec government tells English schools they cannot hire women wearing the hijab, it violates the rights of the English-speaking minority to manage its educational institutions, a lawyer argued Tuesday in a case challenging the province’s secularism law. The […]
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