Parliamentary committee in Ottawa proposes more Muslim teachers to fight Islamophobia
These recommendations are aimed at "educational institutions, including universities, colleges and post-secondary institutions."
As a debate rages on the place of religion in the classroom in Quebec, a parliamentary committee in Ottawa has produced a report that recommends more Muslim teachers in schools as a way to fight Islamophobia.
The report on "the rise of Islamophobia," tabled Tuesday by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, focuses on the various ways Ottawa could consider countering Islamophobia.
One of the fourteen recommendations presented in the report concerns the world of education.
The parliamentarians recommend in particular "increasing the representation of Muslim and Muslim, Palestinian, Palestinian and Arab faculty members".
It also proposes to "dedicate resources" to provide school presidents with "special advisers" on issues of civil liberties, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
These recommendations are aimed at "educational institutions, including universities, colleges and post-secondary institutions."
These two recommendations were first made by the federal government's special envoy on Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, in a letter sent to CEGEPs and universities across the country in August.
These ideas appear almost word for word in the letter of M.me Elghawaby. However, the latter only mentioned post-secondary institutions.
The tabling of the report comes in a context where the Quebec Ministry of Education is investigating at least 17 schools where behaviour contrary to the spirit of secularism has been reported.
The Bloc Québécois signed a letter of dissent in which the party stressed that it is "inconceivable that Quebec and Canadian universities should have a quota of Muslim, Palestinian or Arab professors imposed."
"The Bloc Québécois will never support the idea that professors be appointed based on their religion or ethnicity, instead of their knowledge and competence," the party said.
In addition, the Bloc "deeply deplores the drift of the Committee, which has not been able to resist the temptation to transform this important study into a trial of Quebec society."
The report contains an entire section on Quebec's Act respecting laicity, which prohibits the wearing of religious symbols by state employees in positions of authority, such as judges, police officers and professors.
Conservative and lieutenant for Quebec Pierre Paul-Hus also spoke out against the parliamentarians' proposal.
"Teachers should be hired solely on the basis of merit and qualifications. We completely reject the idea that teachers should be hired based on their religion," he said on X.
The report also proposes "to support freedom of expression, academic freedom, safety and well-being" in institutions and to "provide clear guidance on the difference between feeling safe and being uncomfortable."
Mr. Paul-Hus also pointed out that the Bloc Québécois voted in favour of Ottawa's budget, which paved the way for the funding of Mr.me Elghawaby.
The report on "the rise of Islamophobia," tabled Tuesday by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, focuses on the various ways Ottawa could consider countering Islamophobia.
One of the fourteen recommendations presented in the report concerns the world of education.
The parliamentarians recommend in particular "increasing the representation of Muslim and Muslim, Palestinian, Palestinian and Arab faculty members".
It also proposes to "dedicate resources" to provide school presidents with "special advisers" on issues of civil liberties, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
These recommendations are aimed at "educational institutions, including universities, colleges and post-secondary institutions."
These two recommendations were first made by the federal government's special envoy on Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, in a letter sent to CEGEPs and universities across the country in August.
These ideas appear almost word for word in the letter of M.me Elghawaby. However, the latter only mentioned post-secondary institutions.
The tabling of the report comes in a context where the Quebec Ministry of Education is investigating at least 17 schools where behaviour contrary to the spirit of secularism has been reported.
The Bloc Québécois signed a letter of dissent in which the party stressed that it is "inconceivable that Quebec and Canadian universities should have a quota of Muslim, Palestinian or Arab professors imposed."
"The Bloc Québécois will never support the idea that professors be appointed based on their religion or ethnicity, instead of their knowledge and competence," the party said.
In addition, the Bloc "deeply deplores the drift of the Committee, which has not been able to resist the temptation to transform this important study into a trial of Quebec society."
The report contains an entire section on Quebec's Act respecting laicity, which prohibits the wearing of religious symbols by state employees in positions of authority, such as judges, police officers and professors.
Conservative and lieutenant for Quebec Pierre Paul-Hus also spoke out against the parliamentarians' proposal.
"Teachers should be hired solely on the basis of merit and qualifications. We completely reject the idea that teachers should be hired based on their religion," he said on X.
The report also proposes "to support freedom of expression, academic freedom, safety and well-being" in institutions and to "provide clear guidance on the difference between feeling safe and being uncomfortable."
Mr. Paul-Hus also pointed out that the Bloc Québécois voted in favour of Ottawa's budget, which paved the way for the funding of Mr.me Elghawaby.
