Ottawa is reflecting on idea of creating day of action against Islamophobia: PM
The federal government is still “in reflection” on the idea of making the anniversary of the attack on a Quebec City mosque a day of action on Islamophobia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.
Saying he wants to find the right way to commemorate the tragedy, Trudeau added the government doesn’t want to spark a backlash against any minorities, either.
Trudeau made the remarks in an interview on Radio-Canada’s French-language morning show in Quebec City, Première heure, as he launched a daylong visit of the provincial capital.
“We are in reflection on this,” Trudeau said. “We have seen over several years a worrisome increase of hate crimes against the Muslim community. We also see hate crimes against all religions.
“I think it’s important to underline that intolerance against people of faith. … We want to avoid the kind of backlash we sometimes see when we launch such actions because unfortunately there is still a small, intolerant minority, but we are in reflection on how to go about this.”
Trudeau confirmed he will be present in Quebec City Jan. 29 for ceremonies marking the first anniversary of the attack. He was one of a dozen leaders who went to Quebec City the day after the attacks for an outdoor vigil.
Six Muslim men were shot and killed and 19 others wounded in an attack on the mosque during prayers. Alexandre Bissonnette is to stand trial in March on six charges of first-degree murder and six charges of attempted murder.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims asked Trudeau to make Jan. 29 a national day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia.
Quebec’s political leaders, including Premier Philippe Couillard, have expressed reluctance.
On Thursday, Couillard said his view has not changed.
“Of course, this horrible tragedy must be remembered every year, so I’ll be there when we unfortunately and sadly remember what happened in Quebec City,” Couillard told reporters at Montreal City Hall after a meeting with Mayor Valérie Plante.
He said “Islamophobia, racism exists in Quebec, ( but) is it going to help us to have a specific day on one specific type of racism? We should maybe do a day on anti-Semitism, for example, (and) other types of discrimination and racism.”
He said in Quebec “we will have and have always had activities around the theme of racism, discrimination, but I don’t believe that it’s good for our society to specifically underline among all the issues surrounding racism the issue of Islamophobia, which is one of the faces of racism — one of the despicable faces of racism.”
On Monday, Plante did not answer directly when asked whether she would support such a day.
“Right now, we’re definitely working on how we will be keeping the memory alive of those people who lost their lives in this tragedy,” she said.