M-103 was a private member’s motion introduced by MP Iqra Khalid in December 2016 and passed on March 23, 2017. It mandated a government study of systemic racism and religious discrimination in Canada.
The EFC supports discussions on reducing racism and discrimination on the basis of religion, but is concerned about the use of the term "Islamophobia." That term could be defined as hatred against Muslims and anti-Muslim discrimination, or it could include criticism of Islam.
The EFC has developed a sample letter you can use to express concerns to your MP.
The EFC made a presentation Nov. 6, 2017 to the government Heritage committee mandated by M-103 to study of systemic racism and religious discrimination in Canada.
- Download our nine-page PDF (English, français).
- An audio recording of the hearing is available online at ParlVu (requires a browser with a Flash plug-in).
- Photo at right includes the EFC's Julia Beazley (at right) and Bruce Clemenger (middle). At left is Frank Wang of the National Congress of Chinese Canadians, the presenter who spoke next.
Previous EFC Reponses
Video Update From February 2017
Text of Motion M-103
That, in the opinion of the House, the government should:
- recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear;
- condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination and take note of House of Commons’ petition e-411 and the issues raised by it; and
- request that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage undertake a study on how the government could
- develop a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia, in Canada, while ensuring a community-centered focus with a holistic response through evidence-based policy-making,
- collect data to contextualize hate crime reports and to conduct needs assessments for impacted communities, and that the Committee should present its findings and recommendations to the House no later than 240 calendar days from the adoption of this motion, provided that in its report, the Committee should make recommendations that the government may use to better reflect the enshrined rights and freedoms in the Constitution Acts, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.