Quebec’s main opposition parties will not support a call by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (formerly CAIR-CAN) “to make the anniversary of Quebec City’s deadly mosque shooting a day of action on Islamophobia.”
Jihad Watch covered the CAIR-CAN/NCCM letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, stating that the group was exploiting the tragic mosque attack to continue to foist its “Islamophobia” agenda upon Canada. Also striking was the bold tone of its demands; its presentation of one-sided opinions presented as facts; and its list of stated partnerships. CAIR-CAN/NCCM, like its parent organization, CAIR, makes Muslims out to be the worst victims of hate and “racism”; they are not.
The Parti Quebecois says the term is too controversial, while the Coalition Avenir Quebec deems the word inappropriate because Quebecers “are not Islamophobic.”
Kudos to these parties for recognizing that Canadians do not need any “day of action on Islamophobia.”
Jihad Watch has reported on the real agenda behind Canada’s anti-Islamophobia drives, which is an Organization of Islamic Cooperation global initiative to curb the freedom of speech, so as to not insult Islam, in keeping with Sharia tenets. The biggest source of division in Canada has been Islamophobia motion M-103, which passed in parliament last year. This motion “called on the government to ‘recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear'” — a false accusation against Canadians. When replacing the term “Islamophobia” with the alternative “anti-Muslim bigotry” was repeatedly suggested from a wide variety of voices, the idea was flatly rejected. The Federal government has refused to budge on the word “Islamophobia,” despite its dangerously ambiguous nature.
Conservative Members of Parliament, however, overwhelmingly voted against motion M-103.
At the Provincial level, the Ontario legislature’s “anti-Islamophobia” motion was passed by a vote of 81-0; a particularly surprising development was that the Progressive Conservative caucus was urged by its leader, Patrick Brown, to support the motion two days prior to the vote.
In Quebec, Coalition party spokesman Samuel Poulin rightly stated that “Quebecers are open and welcoming. They are not Islamophobic.”
“Quebec parties oppose making mosque shooting anniversary a day of awareness”, by Sidhartha Banerjee, Canadian Press, January 9, 2018:
MONTREAL — The head of an influential Muslim group said he’s disappointed Quebec’s main opposition parties do not support a call by his organization to make the anniversary of Quebec City’s deadly mosque shooting a day of action on Islamophobia.
Last Friday, the National Council of Canadian Muslims wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asking for the Jan. 29 anniversary of the mass shooting one year ago to become a national day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia.
Six Muslim men were shot and killed and 19 others were wounded in an attack on the mosque during prayers last Jan. 29. Alexandre Bissonnette is to stand trial in March on six charges of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder.
But this week, the province’s two main opposition parties made it clear that, while they support a commemoration, they believe Islamophobia is a loaded term.
The Parti Quebecois says the term is too controversial, while the Coalition Avenir Quebec deems the word inappropriate because Quebecers “are not Islamophobic.”
Ihsaan Gardee, director of the Muslim council, attributed the parties’ position to identity politics in an election year in Quebec.
“In our view, when arguing semantics, it draws attention away from the core issues of hate and Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination that are being discussed and how to effectively address them,” Gardee said Tuesday.
While still waiting for a decision from Heritage Minister Melanie Joly, Gardee said such a designation would help enhance public education about hate, bigotry and Islamophobia and that a day of remembrance is supported by dozens of other Canadian Muslim groups and community partners.
He said the term Islamophobia is understood as the irrational fear and hatred of Muslims.
“Fear and hatred, if left unchecked, is certainly capable of leading to discrimination and violence, which we saw culminate on Jan. 29 of last year when six innocent Muslim men were killed in their place of worship,” Gardee said.
A PQ spokesman said in a statement the party believes the tragedy should be remembered every year, but notes the term Islamophobia is already a controversial term, while the Coalition says the day should honour the victims of the shooting.
“The attack at the Quebec City mosque is a serious tragedy that has struck all of Quebec,” said Bruno-Pierre Cyr, a spokesman for Leader Jean-Francois Lisee.
“We are obviously open to it being commemorated every year.”
But the PQ says it doesn’t like using the word ‘Islamophobia,’ which, it says, is the subject of permanent controversy. The party prefers the expression ‘anti-Muslim sentiment’.
The party notes there is already a world day against racial discrimination and that Quebec’s Human Rights Commission could mark it this year by making the Muslim community the focal point.
Coalition spokesman Samuel Poulin said the party doesn’t intend to support the Muslim council’s request…..
“Quebecers are open and welcoming. They are not Islamophobic.”