Question Period Note: Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia

• Our government stands with and supports Muslim communities across Canada and reaffirms its commitment to take action to denounce and tackle Islamophobia and hate-fueled violence as part of our broader action against racism.

• On June 6, 2022, we announced that the launch of a Notice of Appointment Opportunity on the Governor in Council website, for the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, inviting applicants to submit their candidacy for this important role.

• The Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia will serve as a champion, advisor, expert, and representative to the Canadian government, for the purpose of enhancing efforts to combat Islamophobia and to promote awareness of the diverse and intersectional identities of Muslims in Canada.

• As defined in Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, Islamophobia includes racism, stereotypes, prejudice, fear or acts of hostility directed towards individual Muslims or followers of Islam in general.

• Recent years have seen a marked rise in anti-Muslim sentiment, hate crimes against Muslims and Islamophobia in Canada. Attacks on mosques, overt discrimination against people wearing Islamic symbols and dress.

• The tragic June 6, 2021, attack on a Muslim Canadian family demonstrated the need for urgent action to combat Islamophobia.

• On July 22, 2021, our government hosted a National Summit on Islamophobia, which identified ways the federal government could work with Muslim communities to implement federal anti-racism initiatives that specifically address Islamophobia and hate-fueled violence.

• In 2021, our government established January 29 as a National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.

• In January 2022, our government announced its intention to appoint a Special Representative on combatting Islamophobia. The Special Representative will serve as a champion, advisor, expert, and representative to the Canadian government, for the purpose of enhancing efforts to combat Islamophobia and promote awareness of the diverse and intersectional identities of Muslims in Canada. The Special Representative will collaborate with domestic partners, institutions, and stakeholders to support Canada’s efforts to combat Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hatred, systemic racism, racial discrimination, and religious intolerance.

• On June 6, 2022, our government announced the Notice of Appointment Opportunity, which invited applicants to submit their candidacy for the new position of Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia. The application deadline was July 06, 2022, and applications are now being reviewed.

• To push back against religious discrimination, hateful rhetoric and racism at home, Budget 2022 proposes new resources to support the new Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.

• The Special Representative will be an additional step in our government’s ongoing work through Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy to tackle Islamophobia in all its forms.

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $85 million over four years, starting in 2022-2023, to support the work underway to launch a new Anti-Racism Strategy and National Action Plan on Combatting Hate.

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