Controversial House of Commons study on Islamophobia underway

Debate around motion set off showdowns between right, left wing groups, sparked death threat against Liberal MP who tabled it

Phase two begins this week in the House of Commons’ politically charged debate over combating Islamophobia in Canada.

On Monday, the heritage committee starts a study on systemic racism and religious discrimination in Canada mandated as part of a motion condemning Islamophobia that passed last spring.

The debate around the motion set off showdowns between right and left wing groups on Parliament Hill and beyond, and saw the Liberal MP who sponsored it receive thousands of hate-laced messages and death threats.

But Liberal MP Hedy Fry, who chairs the committee, said all parties worked together to draw up the witness list and are intent on learning and listening.

“I don’t think there’s going to be any kind of nastiness.”

The issue is among the first MPs will deal with after a summer that included a violent protest in Virginia between white nationalists and their opponents that left one dead and injured nearly 20 others, as well as a series of protests and counter protests between similar groups in Canada. People have long been concerned with the global climate for minorities, Fry said, but things are shifting.

“All that we see with the things that have happened in the United States and Canada and around the world is that it’s becoming a little more acute,” Fry said.

“That tells us that doing the study is important.”

The motion, known as M-103, stems from a petition circulating in the summer of 2016 calling on the House of Commons to join signatories in recognizing “that extremist individuals do not represent the religion of Islam, and in condemning all forms of Islamophobia.”

More than 70,000 people had signed when NDP Leader Tom Mulcair introduced his own motion for the House of Commons to back them.

His first attempt failed. A handful of Tories objected. But a few weeks later, his motion was passed. It attracted zero attention.

On Dec. 1, Liberal MP Iqra Khalid gave notice of her motion.

Hers called on MPs to recognize something had to be done to “quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear,” and to that end, the House ought to condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination.

“All that we see with the things that have happened in the United States and Canada and around the world is that it’s becoming a little more acute.” Liberal MP Hedy Fry