Academics & Education

MP Michael Cooper disparaged ‘goat herder cultures’ in 2008 law class discussion, lawyers claim Conservative MP denies allegation, says he's taking 'all necessary legal measures'

(CBC) Conservative MP Michael Cooper made comments deriding “goat herder cultures” during a discussion about Islam’s compatibility with Canadian democracy when he was a law student at the University of Alberta a decade ago, according to two lawyers who have come forward […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

What Michael Cooper got right and why

(Toronto Sun) We tend to place individuals and ideologies in neat, homogeneous compartments, when shades of grey better convey the reality. This seems to have happened in the controversy surrounding the tiff between Faisal Khan Suri, president of the Alberta Muslim Public […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Justice committee votes to scrub Conservative MP’s ‘hurtful’ remarks to Muslim witness from official record Michael Cooper had read sections from manifesto of Christchurch, New Zealand, mass killer

(CBC) The House of Commons justice committee in Ottawa has voted to strike controversial remarks from Conservative MP Michael Cooper from the record. Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault put forward the motion on Tuesday morning, calling Cooper’s comments “discriminatory, hurtful and disrespectful.” Over […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Liberal MP wants Cooper dumped from Tory caucus for rebuking Muslim witness, quoting Christchurch manifesto 2nd Liberal MP wants Cooper's quote referencing Christchurch terror manifesto stricken from committee record

(CBC) A Liberal MP wants Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer to strip MP Michael Cooper of his role as deputy justice critic and toss him from the party caucus for berating a Muslim witness at a parliamentary committee last week. A second Liberal […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslim witness calls for MP to be booted from caucus after ‘you should be ashamed’ outburst 'Such a member should never be part of caucus and should never retain his position,' Faisal Khan Suri says

(CBC) The Muslim man who was the target of an angry confrontation by Conservative MP Michael Cooper during a committee appearance says the punishment meted out by leader Andrew Scheer isn’t enough. “I think more needs to be done here,” Faisal Khan […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Scheer strips Tory MP of committee role after confrontation with Muslim witness Michael Cooper had quoted manifesto of accused New Zealand mosque shooter

(CBC) Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has stripped MP Michael Cooper of his spot on the House of Commons justice committee as punishment for Cooper’s angry confrontation with a Muslim witness in hearings dedicated to online hate. Earlier this week, Cooper told Faisal […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Committee erupts after Tory MP tells Muslim witness he ‘should be ashamed’ MP Michael Cooper read quote from manifesto of accused New Zealand mosque shooter into committee record

(CBC) A parliamentary committee exploring online hate descended into chaos this week after a Conservative MP told a Muslim witness he should be “ashamed” after he drew a link between “conservative commentators” and the online history of mosque shooter Alexandre Bissonnette. The […]