Business of Supply  They are scared of what is happening here. They are scared of the rise of anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia and scared of being harassed on the street or fired from their jobs. They feel unheard. We have also witnessed an alarming rise in anti-Semitism. Synagogues and schools have been targeted.

Business of Supply  In Canada and around the world, we have witnessed a sharp rise of anti-Semitism, as well as a sharp rise of Islamophobia. Muslim and Jewish communities are targets of physical and verbal attacks. They have been harassed on streets and online, barred from places of worship and made to feel unsafe in their schools.

Privilege  From July to November 2022, the Minister of Canadian Heritage conducted 19 virtual and in-person round tables across the country on the key elements of a legislative and regulatory framework on online safety. Virtual sessions were also held on the following topics: anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, anti-Asian racism, women and gender-based violence, and the tech industry. Participants received an information document in advance of each session to prepare for the discussion.

Business of Supply  They have told me they feel like second-class citizens here. They are treated differently. They are discriminated against. They see anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hatred grow. They see their government, which once had a reputation in the world as a leader against that kind of racism and violence, now hide away from taking real action or being a leader in the world.

Business of Supply  There was an opportunity to smooth over the divisions we are facing in our country today, and it is an opportunity lost. I have heard comments from all sides that cross lines, be it Islamophobia or anti-Semitism. It is not okay, and communities are hurting. I have been asked, “Are you pro-Israel, or are you pro-Palestine?” That dichotomy misses the boat. I do not support Hamas.

Business of Supply  Speaker, I am getting information that they are not. That being said, when it comes to Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and dehumanization, we have to do a better job in this country, and that is the reality. At this point, a lot of people want us to condemn one side and not the other.

Business of Supply  Does she feel that this motion, and having members vote on this, will cause greater division, not only in the House but, more important, among Canadians at a time where Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are on the rise? We are all very concerned about unity. I think everyone—

Business of Supply  We need the federal government to do more to fight anti-Semitism, anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia. How do we find hope against despair? How do we build security while acknowledging the trauma of so many people? We must look to the helpers, the many doctors of Gaza who continue to go to work, despite their families having been killed and their homes destroyed; the journalists risking their lives to report the horror of this war; the peacebuilders like Standing Together, a grassroots movement mobilizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel in pursuit of peace, equality and social justice.

Canadian Heritage committee  I would like to put this briefly on the record: We are in a precarious time, a time I have never seen in my 45 years on this earth and in Canada. We have forces of anti-Semitism—and I might say as well Islamophobia—that are really ripping at the very fabric of our country right now. We have a government that is putting out legislation that professes to fight this hatred but that in reality, regardless of whether we're talking about Canadian Heritage or otherwise, is funding this hatred.

Justice committee  People are calling “death to Jews” across the country. It's totally unacceptable. At the same time, many communities have a rise in Islamophobia. We've had 80 Christian churches torched in this country. A Hindu community in my riding is really terrified. They're being threatened, and they're receiving hate as well. I'm disappointed that we wouldn't broaden the scope.

Freedom of Religion  Three years ago, when the Afzaal family were brutally murdered because of their faith, every single political party leader in the House stood on the steps of the London mosque, recognized that Islamophobia is real and vowed to protect the Muslim community in the face of hatred. Today, on the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia, we not only commemorate the victims and survivors but also reflect on whether we have taken action to combat Islamophobia in all of its forms, including the suppression of expression.

Committees of the House  I want to extend my condolences to the families and the members of that community who are still dealing with the pain of that, to all those throughout the country who have been profoundly affected by that event and to those who are deeply concerned about Islamophobia today. I had many conversations today with members of the Muslim community about the challenge of present Islamophobia and about some of the escalating tension and division we are seeing in our society.

Justice  Speaker, I want to acknowledge that today is the seventh anniversary of a terrorist attack at the Quebec City mosque. We commit ourselves to commemorating those victims and to taking action on Islamophobia. The point the member is raising about Islamophobia and all forms of hate is a very important one. We know that the radicalization of people who take violent and sometimes lethal acts in this country is fuelled by what they learn online.

National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia  Following discussions among representatives of all parties of the House, I understand there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia. I would now invite hon. members to rise and honour the memory of the victims of the attack that happened seven years ago, on January 29, 2017. [A moment of silence observed]

Canadian Heritage committee  We've seen the far right and their massive propaganda infrastructure, Fox Media, and Meta, which allows through its algorithms tragic growth of toxic hate in all of its forms, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, all of those toxic forms of hate. We need to have an institution like the CBC that provides that balance and provides for the real information to counter the far-right disinformation that is washing over North America.