Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians have a right to know if a Parliamentary motion to condemn Islamophobia makes politicians and fellow citizens 鈥渦ncomfortable,鈥� so that 鈥渨e can deal with it as a society.鈥�
Trudeau, speaking in the House of Commons Wednesday during the 鈥淒aughters of the Vote鈥� event in support of International Women鈥檚 Day, was responding to a Muslim delegate who encouraged Canadian leaders to condemn Islamophobia.
In relation to M-103, Trudeau said sometimes, it鈥檚 鈥渦seful鈥� for some people to disagree. 鈥淭o point out to the rest of us that there鈥檚 still a lot of work to do.
鈥淚f everyone just agreed and we鈥檇 moved on, maybe we wouldn鈥檛 be addressing the very scary and real spike in hate speech,鈥� Trudeau said, adding maybe politicians wouldn鈥檛 be challenging each other.
鈥淚f M-103, condemning Islamophobia, actually gets people to notice that there are people (who are) uncomfortable with that idea, that there are people who still have problems with the idea that we would condemn discrimination against Muslims, then we have to know, we have to expose that and we have to deal with it as a society."
Trudeau later added that Canada has a problem with hatred and discrimination.
鈥淒o we have a problem with Islamophobia in this country? Yes we do,鈥� Trudeau said. 鈥淒o we have a problem with anti-Semitism in this country? Yes we do.鈥�
Delegate Srosh Hassana struck a chord on the issue of Islamophobia in Canada when she rose to speak in the House on Wednesday.
She became overwhelmed with emotion while describing the challenges facing Muslim women, including fears of being profiled and frustration with those who seek to use her heritage as a 鈥減olitical platform.鈥�
Her remarks received a total of seven applause breaks and several standing ovations from her fellow 鈥淒aughters of the Vote.鈥�
鈥淢adam Speaker, Islamophobia is a heavy word in today鈥檚 discourse, but it is heaviest for those that are on the receiving end of it. As a Muslim woman of colour, in a time of overwhelming stigma, I fear being 鈥榦thered,鈥� profiled, and killed in a country I call my own.
鈥淢y identity is challenged and my actions are heavily scrutinized. I am simultaneously silenced into shame while being expected to apologize for the actions of a small group that do not represent me or any Canadian.
鈥淲e are all shaken from acts of terrorism, but they affect our communities most because they divide us from within as well as from other Canadians.鈥�
鈥淲hether we have been contributing for generations or whether we are new Canadians seeking refuge or opportunities, we are Canadians.
鈥淲e all have responsibility to challenge a growing culture of ignorance, rather than justifying xenophobia and prejudice under the veil of free speech.
鈥淢y heritage is not a political platform to campaign on, unless cherished as complex and as rich as its people.
鈥淭his is my Canada, and there is not seat for hate here.鈥�
