Acts of hate against women wearing hijabs and anti-Muslim graffiti in the Ottawa-Vanier region caused MPP Natalie Des Rosiers to table an anti-Islamophobia bill in the Ontario legislature. Des Rosiers says residents in her area who wear hijabs were being spit on.
The bill passed with a unanimous vote on Thursday and calls on the province to stand against all anti-Muslim actions and rhetoric.
Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark says although it doesn’t create any laws, it shows where the province stands on acts of discrimination.
Clark continued by saying that “hate is hate”, and the province cannot allow anyone to be in a position to express that against any individual.
The motion was originally brought forward in December, but the terrorist attack on a mosque in Quebec City helped hurry proceedings towards the vote that took place last week.