Evidence of meeting #63 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was identification.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Thank you very much, colleagues.
We do have some more time for the witnesses, so what we might want to do is start in the reverse order. We will have one minute of comment and we'll probably get through everybody.
Mr. Harris is first, please. Please listen, colleagues, and see if there's any more information we can gain.
Go ahead, Mr. Harris.
12:10 p.m.
Senior Fellow for National Security, Canadian Coalition for Democracies
Thank you so much for the invitation.
The concern remains that in the motion we've heard about and in the discussions we have heard about, there seems to be, as some have pointed out, relative unanimity concerning the broader picture.
The problem is the key issue of who would do the screening of those who are to lift their veils. The submission of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies is that if we require a female-only screener on the part of the Government of Canada, we are banning males and introducing gender apartheid consistent with sharia-based standards that are wholly inappropriate in this country and frankly an insult to our Constitution and traditions.
12:10 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Coalition for Democracies
To agree with David, I think that should we not insist that it be both—either a male or a female—screening all voters, we will subjugate male scrutineers, male poll clerks, male poll captains, and other members of the public, prevent them from actually validating the identity of voters. So I think we have to be clear that we are not legitimizing a sharia-style voting system here in Canada.
Thank you.
12:10 p.m.
Former Chief Electoral Officer, Élections Québec
I realize that this motion is consistent with the recommendation that I made. I would just say, however, that caution is in order when it comes to making reasonable accommodations that at times can be unreasonable.
12:10 p.m.
Member, Présence musulmane Montréal
I would like to discuss three points.
Firstly, the reasons for opposing the niqab are more emotional than regulatory, given that the niqab is designed in such a way that any woman wearing one can be identified.
Secondly, objecting to Elections Canada's position is no way to stand up to Muslim extremism. Allowing Muslim who wear the niqab to participate in the election process under the conditions set out in the act is a wise move that in the long-term bodes well for the integration of Muslim into the political arena.
Finally—and this is a rhetorical, rather than a direct question—if the issue of the wearing of the niqab by Muslim women had not surfaced during the debate on election procedures, would as many people have called for the act to be amended?
12:10 p.m.
Professor of Political Science, University of Western Ontario, As an Individual
Mr. Chairman, I just want to say thank you for having us here. I hope that at least the majority opinion that you have heard from us around this table will be taken note of and that you will take into consideration that though this is not a matter of religiosity, religions do intersect and that there are much broader implications for decisions that you people will make for the larger society.
Thank you.
12:10 p.m.
Journalist and Author, As an Individual
Thank you very much. I'd like to also just add that as a Canadian who happens to be Muslim, I would appreciate that all motions and rules and regulations be made in the larger interest of democracy and following the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which has equality for all and no gender segregation.
Thank you.
12:10 p.m.
Communications Director, Muslim Canadian Congress
On behalf of the Muslim Canadian Congress, I'd like to thank you for inviting us. It's really encouraging that politicians are listening now to the grassroots-level organizations rather than to mosques and clerics.
Thank you once again, and good luck on the motion.
12:10 p.m.
President, Muslim Canadian Congress
I would add to that, thank you very much. I would also request that more voice be given to moderate, liberal, and progressive secular Muslims.
Thank you.
12:10 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Council of Muslim Women
I hate to disagree with someone who is for democracy, but I wish your language was a little less inflammatory with reference to words like “sharia”, “gender apartheid”, and so on. We were the organization that fought against the Muslim family law in Ontario and got it, but it was a big fight. But don't use terminology that only fans the flame.
Thank you.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Thank you.
As chairman of the committee, I want to thank you, and I'm sure I speak on behalf of all the members of this committee. We thank you for coming out on short notice. We thank you for your heartfelt and sincere answers, and rest assured that the committee will take great pride in making its decisions based on your input.
I will dismiss the witnesses at this time.
Colleagues, I will adjourn the meeting. We will be back here in this room at 1:15.
The meeting is adjourned.