Banks & Banking

2 men defrauded Shariah-compliant mortgage-holders of millions of dollars, crown tells trial Omar Kalair pocketed money from his mortgage company before it went bankrupt, crown alleges

(CBC) The trial of two men charged with defrauding Muslim homeowners got underway in Toronto courtroom this week with the crown accusing the defendants of bilking their clients of millions of dollars. Omar Kalair and co-accused Yusuf Panchbhaya are standing trial in […]

Academics & Education

Westmount High teachers protest CAQ’s religious-garb ‘slippery slope’ 'What I look like has no affect on my teaching whatsoever. … You start with one exclusion and it’s a slippery slope downward.'

(Montreal Gazette) Teachers at Westmount High School took to the street Thursday to protest the incoming Coalition Avenir Québec’s proposed religious neutrality laws, on the day the new government was officially sworn in. The English Montreal School Board, which represents more than […]

Academics & Education

Charles Taylor slams CAQ plan to ban religious symbols for some civil servants Co-author of Bouchard-Taylor report calls CAQ plan 'ridiculous,' 'dishonest' and 'a lot of blather'

(CBC) Philosopher Charles Taylor says the new CAQ government “doesn’t get the point” of the report he co-authored that’s been frequently cited by the CAQ as justification for its controversial plan to ban the wearing of religious symbols by some civil servants. […]

Academics & Education

Westmount High teachers to rally against CAQ religious symbols ban Protest 'to send a clear message to the new government' is set for Thursday morning in front of the school.

(Montreal Gazette) Four years after staging protests against the Parti Québécois’s proposed charter of values, teachers at Westmount High School are planning to rally against the Coalition Avenir Québec plan to bar public servants in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols. […]

Arts & Entertainment

Canada’s first professional Muslim theatre company celebrates ‘the common thread that ties us’ As anti-Muslim sentiment rises in Quebec, Montreal's Silk Road Theatre hopes to help bring people together

(CBC) Montreal-based Silk Road Institute recently made history when it staged the play The Domestic Crusaders as the inaugural production for its new sub-company the Silk Road Theatre Company. In doing so, it officially became Canada’s first professional theatre company dedicated to celebrating Muslim stories. Supported by […]

Academics & Education

New Quebec government open to allowing existing teachers who wear religious symbols to keep their jobs But Coalition Avenir Québec has no intention of removing crucifix from National Assembly, spokesperson says

(CBC) After a week of controversy, Quebec’s incoming Coalition Avenir Québec government is opening the door a crack to compromise on its plan to ban some civil servants from wearing religious symbols. The CAQ said last week it would be prepared to fire teachers who refuse to […]

Clothing

French and values tests not the way to integrate newcomers, Quebec immigrants say Premier-designate confirms plan to cut immigration 20% next year

(CBC) Newcomers to Quebec and their advocates say the premier-designate is taking the wrong approach to integrating immigrants, after François Legault said he will proceed next year with Coalition Avenir Québec’s plan to cut immigration levels by 20 per cent. At his first news conference as incoming premier, Legault confirmed […]

Children & Teens

Syrian community fears scapegoating after man new to Canada charged with murder of Marrisa Shen 'The saddest thing is mostly [I've] heard from other Syrians who are extremely shocked by what happened'

(CBC) Members of B.C.’s Syrian community say they are concerned the announcement of Ibrahim Ali’s murder charge for the death of Marrisa Shen — and Ali’s status as a former refugee — could lead to unwarranted backlash. Police on Monday announced that […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UCP nomination candidate apologizes for remarks about Fort McMurray Muslims NDP describe comments made by Cindy Ross in 2015 as 'racist views'

(CBC) A Calgary United Conservative Party nomination candidate has apologized for three-year-old social media comments in which she compared Muslims in Fort McMurray to bank robbers. Cindy Ross, who is seeking the UCP nomination in Calgary-Fish Creek, apologized for now-deleted Facebook posts […]

Academics & Education

PQ in favour of accommodating Muslim students: Jean-François Lisée The Commission scolaire de Montréal wants to move a test so that its Muslim students won't have to take an exam during a high holiday.

(Montreal Gazette) Jean-François Lisée says he would be in favour of a plan to postpone a province-wide elementary school exam next year because it interferes with a Muslim holiday. The PQ leader weighed in Wednesday on a recent spat between a Montreal […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Conservative senator apologizes for tweet citing Liberal MP’s Saudi background Tweet by Denise Batters, which she deleted, has led to calls for her resignation

(CBC) Conservative Sen. Denise Batters apologized to Liberal MP Omar Alghabra today for her choice of words in what some interpreted as a racist tweet. “My intent was to suggest Mr. Alghabra’s experience living in Saudi Arabia would give him unique insight about the difficult situation […]

Clothing

Husband and wife explore how gender affects their experience as Muslims Being Muslim: The Gendered Experience is a discussion presented by Vancouver Biennale

(CBC) A husband-and-wife team are hosting a discussion Saturday aimed at exploring how gender shapes their experience as Muslims. The discussion, titled Being Muslim: The Gendered Experience, is part of the Vancouver Biennale — a bi-annual city-wide public art exhibition. The discussion will be a safe space for interested people to share […]

Government & Politics

Disqualified UCP candidate stands behind calling Islam an ‘evil cult’ Warning: This story contains language that might be disturbing to some readers

(CBC) A now-disqualified United Conservative Party candidate is defending racist and anti-Islam comments he made on social media that prompted his removal from the southern Alberta ballot. The posts, in which he calls the religion an “evil cult,” came to light only days before party […]

Academics & Education

English-language school boards prepare to use Quebec’s new guidelines on religious accommodation New provincial criteria to grant religious accommodation requests goes into effect July 1

(CBC) The Quebec government’s new guidelines to help public bodies decide whether to grant religious accommodation requests are coming into effect today. However, the union representing 8,000 teachers at English-language school boards across the province says it needs more information about what […]