Beards

RCMP reverses mask policy for bearded officers Prime minister said policy discriminated against officers who keep beards for religious reasons

(CBC) The RCMP has reversed its policy on mask-wearing after being accused of discrimination over the rule, which saw bearded Mounties — including Sikh and Muslim officers — reassigned to desk duty. The policy, which was condemned by both activists and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, required front-line officers to wear […]

Beards

RCMP mask policy for bearded front-line officers is discriminatory and ‘shouldn’t have happened,’ Trudeau says PM and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair say Mounties need to 'rectify' policy

(CBC) The prime minister says the RCMP’s policy requiring front-line officers to wear properly fitting N95 respirator masks amounts to discrimination and “shouldn’t have happened,” because the rule disfavours officers who keep beards for religious reasons. Justin Trudeau said Friday he was “very disappointed” to hear about […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

People’s Alliance drops candidate for making Islamophobic comments online Memramcook-Tantramar's Heather Collins will no longer be running for the People's Alliance

(CBC) People’s Alliance Leader Kris Austin has dropped one of the party’s election candidates because she complained online about the number of Muslims immigrating to this country. As of Wednesday, Memramcook-Tantramar’s Heather Collins is no longer a candidate for the party — […]

Government & Politics

Hassan Diab urges federal government to settle $90 million claim alleging ‘wrongful extradition’ Diab was held for years in a French jail as part of a terrorism investigation that failed due to weak evidence

(CBC) Hassan Diab filed a statement of claim today seeking $90 million from the federal government over the role Canada played in his extradition to France — but his lawyer says the best outcome for everyone would be a speedy out-of-court settlement. […]

Academics & Education

EMSB says it won’t accept federally backed funding to fight pair of Quebec laws Even though the Court Challenges Program is independent, Quebec's premier called on Ottawa to intervene

(CBC) The English Montreal School Board says it will not take the $250,000 it was offered by the federally backed Court Challenges Program to fight two Quebec laws that the board contends go against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In […]

Academics & Education

Legault government up in arms after EMSB awarded federal funds to fight pair of Quebec laws Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says funding is allocated by program independent of federal government

(CBC) The Quebec government says Ottawa has some explaining to do after it was revealed that the English Montreal School Board is funding two separate legal challenges of provincial laws with federal tax dollars. “We need an explanation from the federal government,” […]

Academics & Education

‘Foolish’: Muslim convention criticised for hosting anti-Palestinian politician Attendees criticise decision to host Ontario Premier Doug Ford whose political party has been accused of Islamophobia

(Middle East Eye) Billed as one of the biggest Muslim events in North America, the Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) conference has attracted some high-profile names in recent years, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as Pakistan’s Imran Khan. So […]

Clothing

Civil rights groups want to challenge Quebec religious symbols ban in Supreme Court Appeals Court last week rejected request for injunction on sections of Bill 21

(CBC) Civil rights groups challenging Quebec’s controversial ban on religious symbols want to take their case to Canada’s top court. Quebec’s Court of Appeal last week rejected a request to suspend portions of the law, known as Bill 21, pending a ruling on its constitutionality. […]

Government & Politics

Voting guide for Canadian Muslims rated party leaders on their views on BDS movement, B’nai Brith says 'It is totally unacceptable that government funds have been used to promote an antisemitic movement in Canada,' said Michael Mostyn, CEO of B'nai Brith Canada

(National Post) A voting guide for Canadian Muslims rated federal political leaders on their views on a boycott campaign against Israel and was partly funded by a federal grant, a Jewish advocacy group said Friday. B’nai Brith Canada urged an end to […]

Christians

Canadian imam: ‘Filthy’ candidates in elections support Zionism, homosexuality Sheikh Younus Kathrada warns Muslims they will be judged if they vote for Jews or Christians next week: ‘They are all evil’

(Times of Israel) A Canadian imam called candidates in the country’s upcoming elections “evil and filthy” supporters of Zionism who approve of homosexuality, warning Muslims they would be judged for their votes. “This voting is a testimony and will be recorded,” Sheikh […]

Clothing

Quebec’s religious symbols law has supporters beyond province’s borders: poll One-third of Canadians outside of province would support legislation similar to Bill 21

(CBC) There may be more support for Quebec’s controversial religious symbols law across the country than some Canadians would care to admit. The legislation, which came into effect in June and bans teachers, police officers and other provincial employees from wearing religious […]

Clothing

‘It’s terrifying’: Naheed Nenshi calls for national groundswell against Quebec secularism bill Mayor urges Canadians to give federal leaders courage to fight against Bill 21

(CBC) Calgary city council voted this week to condemn Quebec’s religious symbols law, Bill 21. Bill 21 bars certain civil servants from wearing religious symbols at work. Critics have accused the law of undermining religious freedom and singling out minorities, although it remains […]

Clothing

In retort to Trudeau, Quebec’s premier asks federal leaders to ‘stay out’ of secularism law forever Liberal leader 'deeply opposed' to law, but says legal intervention not in the cards 'for the moment'

(CBC) Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that a Liberal government would not get involved in legal challenges to Quebec’s religious symbols law, at least not “for the moment.” But that wasn’t good enough for the province’s premier, François Legault, who wants a commitment from all federal […]

Clerics & Preachers

Liberals dump Quebec candidate after B’nai Brith, Conservatives allege anti-Semitic comments 'The insensitive comments made by Hassan Guillet are not aligned with the values of the Liberal Party'

(CBC) The Liberals have dumped a candidate in Quebec after B’nai Brith Canada accused Hassan Guillet of making a number of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel statements. “The insensitive comments made by Hassan Guillet are not aligned with the values of the Liberal Party of Canada,” […]

Government & Politics

‘Whitewash’: Hassan Diab attacks report concluding government acted properly in his extradition case Diab spent over three years in a French prison before the case against him fell apart

(CBC) Hassan Diab and his lawyer are accusing the federal government of perpetrating a “whitewash” after an external review, released today, concluded government lawyers acted ethically and followed proper procedures in extraditing him to France for a terrorism case that later fell […]

Clothing

Civil rights groups seek appeal of judge’s refusal to freeze parts of Quebec’s religious symbols law Civil Liberties Association, National Council of Muslims sought injunction hours after law passed in June

(CBC) Two civil rights groups are seeking an appeal after a Quebec Superior Court justice refused their emergency request to temporarily freeze parts of the province’s new religious symbols law. The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Canadian Civil Liberties […]

Clothing

Will federal leaders back the legal challenge to Quebec’s religious symbols ban with an election looming? Jewish group wants Ottawa to intervene after emergency injunction denied

(CBC) The Canadian wing of an international Jewish organization wants Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to send government lawyers to join the legal fight against Quebec’s secularism law. B’nai Brith Canada published an open letter Thursday after a Quebec Superior Court justice denied […]