Liberal Party (Canada) – Page 2

Muslim leaders urge Ontario to adopt Our London Family Act to immediately combat Islamophobia Act includes 6 proposals to counter racism in wake of June attack on Afzaal family

November 8, 2021 Unlisted Author

(CBC) Leaders of Canada’s Muslim community are urging the Ontario government to take immediate action against Islamophobia and adopt measures they’re proposing to get to the root of “systemic discrimination.” Nadia Hasan, chief operating officer of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, on Monday discussed the […]

Canadian ISIS member caught in Syria flown to U.S. to face terrorism charges

October 2, 2021 Stewart Bell

(Global News) A Canadian who was allegedly “a leading figure” in the ISIS media section has been taken to the United States to face terrorism charges, the U.S. Justice Department said Saturday. The FBI took custody of Mohamed Khalifa from Kurdish forces […]

Families of ISIS detainees held in Syria take Canada to court over inaction

September 28, 2021 Stewart Bell

(Global News) The families of more than two dozen Canadians held at prisons and camps for ISIS detainees in Syria have filed a case in the Federal Court accusing the government of failing to bring them home. Eleven families, which were not […]

Imams ask Conservative candidate to quit over poor followup on apology for posts

September 19, 2021 Unlisted Author

(Canadian Press) The Canadian Council of Imams says the Conservative candidate in Nova Scotia’s Central Nova riding must resign because his apology for Islamophobic media posts was an insincere attempt at damage control. Two weeks ago, Steven Cotter apologized on Facebook for […]

Muslim Canadians call on politicians to take concrete action to fight Islamophobia

September 18, 2021 Noushin Ziafati

(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 […]

Conservative dropped as candidate over tweets says she is still the Tory choice

September 17, 2021 Stephanie Taylor and Marie Woolf

(Canadian Press) A Conservative candidate dropped by the party over Islamophobic tweets she claims were faked says she is still running as the “confirmed” Tory candidate in the Toronto riding. The Tories dumped Lisa Robinson last week after the Beaches-East York Liberal […]

Feds haven’t ‘ruled out’ intervening against Quebec’s secularism bill, Trudeau says

September 12, 2021 Emerald Bensadoun

(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 […]

Candidate controversies over Islamophobia, vaccines dog O’Toole’s campaign in GTA

September 11, 2021 Christopher Reynolds

(Canadian Press) Candidate controversies over vaccines and Islamophobia dogged Erin O’Toole’s campaign Saturday as the Conservative leader made his pitch to residents in the Greater Toronto Area, a vote-rich region crucial to the outcome of the federal election on Sept. 20. The […]

Conservatives dump Toronto candidate over Islamophobic tweets Lisa Robinson denies involvement but suspends campaign in Beaches–East York

September 10, 2021 Richard Raycraft

(CBC) The Conservatives have dumped their candidate in the Toronto riding of Beaches–East York after past Islamophobic tweets surfaced. A spokesperson confirmed that Lisa Robinson will not run under the party’s banner in the riding. “Racism and Islamophobia has no place in […]

Muslim communities worry that Islamophobic violence is being forgotten during election campaign As party leaders roll out campaign promises, the problem of racist violence seems to be flying under the radar

September 9, 2021 Raffy Boudjikanian

(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 Muslim group calls for special envoy to tackle Islamophobia

September 8, 2021 Nathan Sager

(Insauga.com) A Canadian Muslim advocacy group is adding its voice to a call for all federal parties to support the creation of a special office to try to dismantle the rising Islamophobia in Canada. On Wednesday afternoon, the National Council of Canadian […]

N.S. Conservative candidate apologizes for sharing racist Facebook posts

September 4, 2021 Glen McGregor

(CTV) A Conservative candidate in Nova Scotia has apologized for sharing social media posts about Muslims and immigrants but will continue to run for the party in a riding once held by former prime minister Brian Mulroney. “In the past I have […]

Maryam Monsef falls in polls after calling Taliban ‘our brothers’

September 2, 2021 Rachel Emmanuel

(iPolitics) After referring to the Taliban as “our brothers,” it looks as though Liberal incumbent Maryam Monsef won’t be representing her southern Ontario riding of Peterborough-Kawartha for a third term, according to a Mainstreet Research poll. The survey, conducted on Sept. 1, […]

Federal minister Maryam Monsef calls Taliban ‘our brothers,’ stresses she views them as a terrorist group

August 25, 2021 Kieran Leavitt

(Toronto Star) Canada’s minister for women and gender equality, Maryam Monsef, faced a torrent of criticism Wednesday after she referred to the Taliban as “our brothers” in a plea to ensure safe passage for thousands looking to flee Afghanistan. The “cultural reference” […]

Muslim charity wants court to freeze suspension, citing ‘irreparable harm’

August 20, 2021 Jim Bronskill

(Canadian Press) A Muslim charity is asking a court to freeze a federal suspension, which prohibits it from issuing tax receipts, while a challenge of the penalty plays out. Ottawa-based Human Concern International says the one-year suspension levied last month will cause […]

Trudeau says federal security, tax agencies must do more to end Islamophobia

July 22, 2021 Maan Alhmidi

(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 […]

Feds looking into Muslim charities’ concerns: PM

July 20, 2021 Jim Bronskill

(Canadian Press) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is “extremely concerned” about recent reports that Muslim charities are being unfairly targeted for federal audits and sanctions. Trudeau told a news conference Tuesday the Liberal government is looking “very closely at our […]

Muslim charities concerned about targeted audits call for security watchdog probe

June 23, 2021 Jim Bronskill

(Canadian Press) Muslim charities from across Canada, fearful they are being unfairly singled out for audits, want the national security watchdog to investigate the matter. Charities, non-profit organizations and supportive civil society voices are flagging the concerns in a letter sent Wednesday […]

Justice Mahmud Jamal is first person of colour nominated to the Supreme Court of Canada Jamal will replace Justice Rosalie Abella, who retires from the top court on Canada Day

June 17, 2021 Peter Zimonjic

(CBC) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has nominated the Honourable Mahmud Jamal as the next member of the Supreme Court of Canada. “I know that Justice Jamal, with his exceptional legal and academic experience and dedication to serving others, will be a valuable […]

Conservative MP Tim Uppal sorry for role in ‘divisiveness’ of Harper-era policies

June 14, 2021 Jim Bronskill

(Canadian Press) A former Conservative cabinet minister is apologizing for not pushing against his party’s culturally divisive policies of the Stephen Harper era, including an effort to ban face coverings during citizenship ceremonies. In a Facebook post, Tory MP Tim Uppal says […]

MPs move to convene emergency Islamophobia summit before August

June 11, 2021 Christopher Reynolds

(Canadian Press) Federal lawmakers are calling on the government to convene an emergency summit on Islamophobia by the end of July. In the House of Commons on Friday, MPs gave unanimous consent to an NDP motion demanding the gathering in response to […]

Toronto 18 bomb plot leader denied parole despite claiming to be non-violent

May 28, 2021 Stewart Bell

(Global News) A former terrorist leader serving a life sentence for plotting truck bombings in downtown Toronto was denied parole Friday at a hearing during which he described himself as non-violent. The Parole Board of Canada rejected Zakaria Amara’s bid for release […]

Quebec court decision on Bill 21 poses a conundrum for Justin Trudeau Once supportive of a court challenge, prime minister now faces re-election concerns

April 21, 2021 Raffy Boudjikanian

(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 […]

Activist’s deportation case adds to increased calls for oversight of border services Abdelrahman Elmady says he was deemed a security threat over his ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt

April 8, 2021 Ethan Sawyer

(CBC) An Egyptian human rights activist is fighting to stay in Vancouver, saying the political affiliations that forced him to seek asylum in Canada are now being used to justify his deportation. In 2011, Abdelrahman Elmady joined other Egyptians in an uprising against the […]

It’s ‘absolutely essential’ Canada repatriate citizens in Syrian camps: Antonio Guterres People should have the possibility to voluntarily go back to their countries of origin, says UN chief

March 26, 2021 Peter Zimonjic, Rosemary Barton and Philip Ling

(CBC) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says it’s “absolutely essential” countries such as Canada repatriate Canadian women and children currently being held in prison camps in Syria. Guterres made the remarks to chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton when asked if the Liberal government’s […]

Bloc leader doubles down on remarks about Transport Minister Omar Alghabra

January 26, 2021 Christopher Reynolds

(Canadian Press) Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is standing by comments he made about Transport Minister Omar Alghabra earlier this month that sparked criticism he was trying to tar the new cabinet member with Islamophobic innuendo. Blanchet addressed the blowback nearly two […]

Canada’s new transport minister calls Bloc Québécois attack over his religious views ‘dangerous’

January 14, 2021 Alex Ballingall

(Toronto Star) Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra is rebuffing an attack from the Bloc Québécois that was condemned Thursday as racist and Islamophobic, stating the party’s questions about his religious views and political background represent “dangerous rhetoric” based on “unsubstantiated innuendo.” Earlier […]

Canada repatriates orphaned girl from ISIS camp in Syria

October 5, 2020 Stewart Bell and Mercedes Stephenson

(Global News) Canadian officials removed an orphaned girl from an ISIS detention camp in northeastern Syria over the weekend, the government confirmed on Monday. The girl, known as Amira, is the first Canadian to be repatriated from Syrian camps for ISIS detainees. […]

RCMP arrests ‘Abu Huzayfah’ for allegedly faking his past with ISIS

September 25, 2020 Stewart Bell

(Global News) A Canadian whose widely-publicized account of conducting executions for ISIS fueled public outrage and debate in the House of Commons has been charged with allegedly making it up. Shehroze Chaudhry, 25, who has portrayed himself as a former ISIS member […]

Tory leader says won’t touch Quebec secularism law, supports Bill 101 expansion

September 14, 2020 Sidhartha Banerjee

(Canadian Press) Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole said following a meeting Monday with Quebec Premier Francois Legault that he supports the province’s right to pass legislation banning religious symbols and he wouldn’t challenge it in court. Canada is facing a national unity crisis, O’Toole told reporters after his first in-person meeting […]

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

September 9, 2020 Elizabeth Fraser

(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 — […]

Terrorism charges laid against Calgary man after 7-year probe Hussein Sobhe Borhot, 34, accused of participating in a kidnapping, helping ISIS in Syria

July 22, 2020 Unlisted Author

(CBC) Alberta’s RCMP Integrated National [Security] Enforcement Team has laid terrorism charges against a Calgary man following an investigation that lasted seven years. Hussein Sobhe Borhot, 34, of Calgary has been charged with three counts of participation in the activity of a […]

Repatriate Canadian former ISIS fighters and family members, Human Rights Watch urges Conservatives want any Canadian who joined ISIS to be prosecuted

June 29, 2020 Ryan Patrick Jones

(CBC) The Canadian government is flouting its international human rights obligations by failing to repatriate and provide adequate consular assistance to 47 citizens who are currently detained in northeast Syria because of alleged ties to the Islamic State, a new report from […]

Muslim voting guide grant was ‘weird’: deputy minister

February 18, 2020 Unlisted Author

(Toronto Sun) The deputy minister of industry in an internal email described use of a taxpayer-funded research project to publish a 2019 Muslim voting guide as “weird,” in documents obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter. The guide criticized opposition MPs for activities that “foment […]

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

February 6, 2020 Jonathan Montpetit and Isaac Olson

(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 […]

Mounties worried about anti-immigrant backlash after terrorism arrests: documents Police detained, then released, a man of Syrian descent during Project Salento last January

January 3, 2020 Catharine Tunney

(CBC) The RCMP was worried about anti-immigrant backlash in the wake of an alleged Kingston terrorist plot and raised concerns about a rise in protests due to “the government’s position on immigration,” new internal documents show. Last January, the national police force charged a […]

‘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

December 23, 2019 Umar A. Farooq

(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 […]

‘False and unfounded’: Liberal MP denies claims that he’s worked with Iran Journalist claims he was told by Iranian defector that Majid Jowhari has had contact with Iranian intelligence

December 18, 2019 Evan Dyer

(CBC) A Liberal MP is denying allegations, broadcast on an Iranian-language television network, that he has worked with and accepted money from Iran’s government. “These accusations are absolutely false and unfounded,” Majid Jowhari told CBC News in a written statement. “I strongly […]

Legault says he understands ‘preoccupation’ with Bill 21 judge’s alleged bias Interim Liberal leader says premier should not 'intervene directly' in complaint

December 3, 2019 John MacFarlane

(CBC) Quebec Premier François Legault offered a brief shout-out on Tuesday to Quebecers “preoccupied” with the alleged bias of a judge involved in a case related to the province’s secularism law. During a media scrum at the National Assembly, Legault was asked […]

Quebec premier says Bill 21 ‘must be respected’ as Trudeau Liberals form minority

October 22, 2019 Kalina Laframboise

(Global News) Quebec Premier François Legault congratulated Justin Trudeau on his reelection. Yet bolstered by the Liberals’ drop to minority status and the electoral success of the nationalist Bloc Québécois, Legault cautioned the prime minister not to take any actions that go […]

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’

October 15, 2019 Unlisted Author

(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 […]

Among Canadian ISIS detainees in Syria, women far outnumber men

October 12, 2019 Stewart Bell

(Global News) Sitting in a dim room at a detention camp in northern Syria, Kimberly Polman was feeling vulnerable. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had vowed to free female prisoners like herself, and she believed him. “I take it seriously,” Polman said. […]

Yes, there are real problems with Bill 21

October 11, 2019 Farzana Hassan

(Toronto Sun) The resurgent Bloc Quebecois is poised to perform well in the election under its articulate and pragmatic leader, Yves-Francois Blanchet. It has successfully pitched itself to younger voters by turning away from ageing entrenched separatists. Recent polls in Quebec put […]

Singh says he’d ‘have to’ look at Bill 21 as PM if it goes to Supreme Court 'I don't believe in interfering with the court decision right now,' says Singh

October 8, 2019 Catharine Tunney

(CBC) NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said today that, if he’s elected prime minister, he’d have to get involved in Quebec’s controversial secularism law if it makes it all the way up to the Supreme Court. He also said this morning that he […]

Bloc Quebecois leader says secularism taking up too much space in federal campaign

October 8, 2019 Unlisted Author

(Canadian Press) Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet has had enough of all the secularism talk. Quebec’s Bill 21 banning religious symbols for some public servants is a “very important” subject, but it should not be an issue in the current federal campaign, the […]

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

October 5, 2019 Matthew Pearson

(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 […]

New court challenge brought against Quebec’s secularism law Muslim women 'can't help but feel like we are being targeted,' says plaintiff

September 27, 2019 Jonathan Montpetit

(CBC) Quebec’s secularism law, which bans some civil servants from wearing religious symbols at work, is facing a new legal challenge. Lawyers representing a multi-faith group filed a motion Thursday in Quebec Superior Court that argues the law violates constitutional protections of gender […]

Untested legal options could give feds ways to intervene on Bill 21

September 22, 2019 Joan Bryden

(Canadian Press) National party leaders’ reluctance to intervene in a court challenge to Quebec’s controversial Bill 21 may have left the erroneous impression that there’s nothing the federal government can do to try to stop the law that bans teachers, police and […]

Sameer Zuberi chosen as Liberal candidate for Pierrefonds-Dollard Over the weekend, the Conservative Party accused Zuberi of questioning Osama bin Laden's involvement in 9/11

September 17, 2019 Unlisted Author

(CBC) Sameer Zuberi, a Montreal activist who has been outspoken against Islamophobia in the province, has been nominated as the Liberal [candidate] for Pierrefonds-Dollard. Until July, Zuberi was the diversity and engagement officer for McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine, according to LinkedIn. […]

What the leaders are saying about Quebec’s secularism law Federal leaders have treaded carefully around the issue in recent months

September 13, 2019 Unlisted Author

(CBC) Federal leaders have been challenged to outline their position on Quebec’s secularism law in the first week of the campaign. The law has been met with criticism within the province and across the country, with many saying it infringes on people’s right to […]