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, hate-fueled violence, and systemic discrimination against Muslims as part of our broader action against racism and hate.

• Following an open, transparent, and merit-based selection Governor in Council process, Amira Elghawaby was appointed as the first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, beginning February 20, 2023.

• The Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia serves 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 including attacks on mosques, overt discrimination against people wearing Islamic symbols and dress. Muslims continue to be among the most frequent targets of hate crimes against a religion, continuing trends from previous years.
• According to the most recent Statistics Canada’s release entitled Police Reported Crime Statistics in Canada, 2022, the number of police-reported hate crimes had a small increase (7%), from 3,355 incidents in 2021 to 3,576 incidents in 2022. Hate crimes targeting a religion were down 15% in 2022 yet remained higher than the previous three years. Hate crime counts include both confirmed and suspected hate crime incidents.
• Higher numbers of hate crimes targeting a race or an ethnicity (+12%; 1,950 incidents) and a sexual orientation (+12%; 491 incidents) accounted for most of the increase in 2022. The majority of police-reported hate crimes were non-violent offences, primarily mischief.
• While more detailed data on the Muslim community is not yet available for 2022, data from 2021 indicates that the rate of police-reported hate crimes targeting the Muslim community was second highest (8 incidents per 100,000 population, following that targeting the Jewish population which was highest at 145 incidents per 100,000 population.
• 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 serves 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 collaborates 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. Following this process, Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s first Special Representative to Combat Hate was appointed in early 2023 and officially began her new role on February 20, 2023.
• The Special Representative’s mandate includes: enhancing efforts to combat Islamophobia; raising awareness of the diverse and intersectional identities of Muslims; protecting human rights, including freedom of religion, at home; and advocating for, and advancing, inclusive public policy that respects diversity and demonstrates Canada’s leadership role in combatting all forms of hate and discrimination.
• To support the work of the Special Representative, Budget 2022 provided $5.6 million over five years, with $1.2 million ongoing to Canadian Heritage.

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