NDP Leader to seek Unanimous Consent on Islamic Heritage Month Bill

London-Fanshaw MPP Teresa Armstrong, who introduced Bill 23 earlier this week, added that the NDP is willing to work with the Liberals to find a solution to whatever is holding the Bill’s passage up on the Government side.

“I am very dedicated to seeing Islamic Heritage Month established in Ontario,” said Armstrong.  “We are grateful for the support that the Official Opposition has shown this Bill and are willing to work with the Liberal Government to move past any problems they may see with it. We are not sure what has prevented them from allowing Unanimous Consent passage of it this week in the Legislature, but we are focused on seeing October become Islamic Heritage Month in Ontario.  This step has already been taken at the Federal level and in many local school boards, there is no reason it can’t be done provincially.”

The Ontario NDP has been working diligently to find ways to address racism, from calling for an end to arbitrary, race-based police street checks (carding), to pushing the Liberal government to finally establish the Anti-Racism Directorate.

“This is about building a better future for all of our children,” continued Horwath.  “We have to make sure that every member of the Muslim community, and every Ontarian, feels safe and secure here in our Province. That’s the only way Ontario can reach its potential.  All Ontarians should be able to learn about and celebrate the tremendous contributions that Ontarians of Islamic Heritage have made throughout our province’s history – and the tremendous contributions that thecommunity is making to build a better future for all of us.”

Update (September 27, 2016) This morning Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was disappointed when her Liberal colleagues in the Ontario Legislature failed to pass Bill 23, the Islamic Heritage Month Act 2016.

“This was an opportunity for us, as representatives of the people of Ontario, to come together to take action on the rising prevalence of Islamophobia and hate-motivated crime in our Province,” noted Horwath. “Celebrating Islamic culture, history and the contributions of people of Islamic heritage to our society is an important step that we need to take. Learning about each other and celebrating our diversity is a meaningful and effective way to combat hatred.”

London-Fanshaw MPP Teresa Armstrong, who introduced the Bill earlier this week, added that the NDP will not give up the fight to establish October as Islamic Heritage Month.

“I am very dedicated to seeing this Bill become law and I know Andrea is too,” said Armstrong.  “We will do whatever it takes to see October become Islamic Heritage Month in Ontario.”

The Ontario NDP has been working diligently to find ways to address racism, from calling for an end to arbitrary, race-based police street checks (carding), to pushing the Liberal government to finally establish the Anti-Racism Directorate.

“This is about building a better future for all of our children,” continued Horwath.  “We have to make sure that every member of the Muslim community, and every Ontarian, feels safe and secure here in our Province. That’s the only way Ontario can reach its potential.  All Ontarians should be able to learn about and celebrate the tremendous contributions that Ontarians of Islamic Heritage have made throughout our province’s history – and the tremendous contributions that thecommunity is making to build a better future for all of us.”

Origingal Press Release: Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will seek unanimous consent for 2nd and 3rd reading passage of Bill 23, the Islamic Heritage Month Act 2016, in time for Islamic Heritage Month, October 2016.

“We have to do more to tackle discrimination, prejudice and Islamophobia,” said Horwath.  “This is an opportunity to recognize that increasing Islamophobia is a reality in Ontario, and to take action to combat it.”

NDP Citizenship and Immigration Critic MPP Teresa Armstrong will be introducing the bill, bringing the Province in line with the Federal government and local school boards-including the TDSB-which have already taken this step.

“Dialogue, conversation, asking questions, seeking knowledge; these are all things that combat ignorance and hatred.  New Democrats have been working diligently to find ways to combat racism in Ontario.  We have called for an end to arbitrary, race-based police street checks and carding.  We pushed the Premier to finally set-up the Anti-Racism Directorate and have been vocal advocates for the series of public community meetings now being held in towns and cities across the Province to address the Directorate’s mission and goals” said Armstrong.

“This is about building a better future for all of our children,” continued Horwath.  “We have to make sure that every member of the Muslim community, and every Ontarian, feels safe and secure here in our Province. That’s the only way Ontario can reach its potential.  All Ontarians should be able to learn about and celebrate the tremendous contributions that Canadians of Islamic Heritage have made throughout our province’s history – and the tremendous contributions that the community is making to build a better future for all Ontarians.”