Shooting in Quebec City

The House of Commons observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the attack at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec. All parties in the House of Commons expressed their condemnation of the shooting and offered their condolences to the families of the victims, as well as the Muslim community in Quebec. Statements condemning the attack were read by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Opposition MP Rona Ambrose, NDP Leader MP Thomas Mulcair, Bloc Quebecois Leader MP Rhéal Fortin, and the Green Party Leader MP Elizabeth May.

Syria 
Liberal MP Ramez Ayoub for Thérèse-De Blainville informed the House that Canada led a resolution at the United Nations to demand an immediate cessation of hostilities in Syria. The resolution passed with the support of 122 countries. The MP then urged all members of the House to join the government in encouraging all parties involved to stop blocking humanitarian assistance in Syria so that hundreds of thousands of people experiencing the war in Aleppo receive emergency aid.

The Aga Khan’s birthday
Garnett Genuis, Conservative MP for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan made a statement in the House marking the 80^th birthday of His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of 15 million Ismaili Muslims. The MP stated that the Aga Khan has always emphasized pluralism, tolerance, and the importance of humanitarian work.  Furthermore, the Aga Khan has a strong connection to Canada, having been named an honourary Canadian citizen.

E-Petition 411 and Motion 103 Condemning Islamophobia 
An e-petition condemning all forms of Islamophobia was presented in the House of Commons by Liberal MP Frank Baylis (Pierrefonds-Dollard). The petition, which previously passed with unanimous support in the House of Commons, received more support (69,742 signatures) than any e-petition in Canadian history. MP Baylis emphasized that the House of Commons has an “enduring commitment to the Canadian ideals of religious freedom” and continues to support diversity of Canadian society.

Liberal MP Iqra Khalid (Mississauga-Erin Hills) stood in the House of Commons, as a Muslim woman, in support of the e-petition. Moreover, MP Khalid put forward Motion-103, which calls “on our government to condemn Islamophobia” and continue to “work towards eliminating all forms of systematic racism and religious discrimination.”

A Call to Change Canada’s Policy towards Myanmar
Conservative MP Garrett Genius (Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan) condemned the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. He acknowledged and denounced the Mynamarese government’s continuous efforts to kill and displace thousands of Rohingya people. He urged the government to reconsider its policy towards Myanmar, suggesting the government react to the “troubling and worsening situation” facing Muslims in Myanmar.

Including Muslims in the federal review of national security

Salma Zahid, MP for Scarborough Centre, stated that the Muslim community has too often in the past not been included in the discussions on designing a national security framework.  She asked the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness how he is ensuring that all communities, including the Muslim community, are involved in the current review of national security. Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, responded that national security consultations must be open and inclusive, and detailed the efforts that he is taking to ensure that Muslim voices are heard. He stated that amongst other efforts by his team, he has personally met with Canadian-Muslim organizations.

Standing against spate of recent racist vandalism in Ottawa

Pierre Poilievre, MP for Carleton, condemned the recent spate of racist vandalism in Ottawa which targeted members of the Jewish, Muslim, and black Christian communities. He stated that “the people of Ottawa stand united against the twin evils of racism and anti-Semitism.”