National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) Campaign Success on Hate Crime Provision in Bill

For years, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) saw many of those who attacked our brothers and sisters in the streets skate by without charges after engaging in horrendous acts of Islamophobia.

We gathered Muslim leaders from across the country on the first anniversary of the London attack to push our lawmakers for this adjustment in our laws. Pushing for this specific provision was the key ask of our National Advocacy Day in 2022 and was a major ask during the Islamophobia Summit.

With your advocacy, and that of hundreds of community leaders, we made this happen.

We welcome today’s announcement that, after much engagement, this clause is being built into the Criminal Code. We were proud to stand with Minister Virani at the tabling of the legislation.

No one should suffer acts of hate without accountability and justice. We are glad to see this problem be addressed at the systemic level.

We want to be clear that we continue to study the Bill in its entirety and will be keenly engaged in the committee process. We look forward to positively engaging with the government to make sure that the Bill helps all Canadians, and does not result in unforeseen consequences.

We believe that a free-standing hate crime provision is a positive step forward, and is a result of all of your incredible advocacy.