Coalition musulmane pour la protection des droits et libertés

Translation of the French document:

I. Recommendations at the provincial level

1.1. Recommendations to the Ministère des Relations avec le citoyen et de l’Immigration

1.1.1. Recommendations as to multicultural education and citizenship education

Considering that education plays a key role in the building of a Québec society that is more inclusive and open to ethno-cultural and religious diversity;

Considering the lack of thorough knowledge on the part of members of the Muslim community about the legal culture in Québec and Canada in general, and of their rights and freedoms in particular;

Considering, on the other hand, that the perpetuation of prejudices with regard to Islam and Muslims is not likely to promote their full integration within Québec society ;

Considering also that Québec made a deliberate political choice by increasing immigration of qualified French-speaking professionals from North Africa and that their citizenship training suffers from several shortcomings since a great majority of them do not attend the Centres d’orientation et de formation des immigrants (COFI); 

In accordance with the mandate of the MRCI to see to the bringing together of the government and members of the cultural communities and to promote the efforts of intercultural dialogue to ensure the sharing of common values and to make the most of the richness of the Muslim communities;

And reaffirming the will of our Coalition to fulfill its responsibility with regard to multicultural and citizenship education, we recommend:

That a permanent program be set up to help raise awareness among the personnel of public and para public institutions, schools, security, justice and social services to the various forms of cultural and religious diversity, and be conducted in close cooperation with our Coalition;

That, within the framework of the Programme de soutien à la participation cioyenne, the MRCI finance projects for multicultural and citizenship education aimed at, on the one hand, informing Muslims about Québec’s legal and political culture and, on the other, the rest of Québec society about the true Muslim values and customs;

That different state institutions promote ethno-cultural and religious diversity and that, in accordance with Law 90 and through concrete initiatives, private employers be made more aware of and encouraged to make training in the management of cultural and religious diversity a priority in order to encourage them to set up awareness-raising and equal access to employment program;

1.1.2. Recommendations as to equal access to employment

Considering that employment equity is as much an ecnonomic imperative that allows Québec to take advantage of all available competencies as a social justice imperative garanteeing citizens’ full participation and the development of Muslims’ full potential;

Considering that the assessment of three year mark of the application of Law 143 will be made in 2004 and that the State, in addition to the CDPDJ, must see to the proper implementation of this law;

Considering that discrimination in employment towards Muslims still exists pervasively, both insidiously and openly, despite legal prescriptions against it, and that this exclusion has considerable psychological and financial negative consequences on its victims and their families;

Considering also the significant obstacles which continue to be placed before qualified professionals from visible minorities by professionals’ associations such as those of physicians and engineers;

To compensate for the real lacunaae in the area of equal access to employment and in order to translate equality of rights into real equality on the ground, we recommend:

That the legislative framework and accountability rules for high-ranking officials in charge of implementing the quantitative objectives for recruitment, training and promotion of members of visible minorities in the public sector as well as other ones for all job categories be reinforced, as well as those for the follow-up and control mechanisms;

That corrective measures be adopted without delay in order to ensure a better representation of all visible minorities within the organizations targeted by the provincial law on equal access to employment;

That a parliamentary commission be set up to examine professional codes in order to reduce the obstacles posed to the access to certain professions by members of visible minorities;

That the criteria for the recognition of foreign degrees applied by the MRCI, MEQ and other provincial educational institutions be harmonized and that employers be made aware of these criteria so that they may better recognize such qualifications and respect them;

That a permanent committee be set up to ensure the annual follow up of the recruitment, training and promotion of members of visible minorities, particularly for the education, civil service, and social and health services’ sectors.

1.1.3. Recommendations as to questions of rights and justice

Considering that the CDPDJ is the guarantor of the rights of citizens against discrimination and given the lack of means at its disposal to successfully fulfill its task,

Considering the absence of a special hate crimes unit within the different police corps in Québec, and given the further absence of precise criteria to define such crimes as exists in other Canadian provinces;

To compensate for the weaknesses in the area of rights and justice, Muslim community representatives recommend:

That the government grant the CDPDJ futher powers in the areas of social and economic rights as well as the necessary human expertise and material resources to fulfill its mandate, particularly with respect to accelerating the examination of discrimination complaints, and ensuring an annual and proactive follow-up of the implementation of Law 143 according to the powers invested in it;

That a hate crime unit be set up at the SPVM and the Sûreté du Québec and that the experiences by police corps in other Canadian cities with respect to crime classification, complaint motives as well as their follow-up be put to use in this endeavour;

That a committee be set up to follow up on Human Rights’ Tribunal rulings regarding issues of discrimination.

1.1.4. Recommendations as to religious freedom and accommodation 

Considering the steady demographic increase of the Muslim population in Québec and its right to benefit from places of worship which are both accessible and respectful of its dignity;

Considering on the other hand the prejudicial effects of certain measures as pertain to the construction of places of worship in urban areas, and given the urgent need to harmonize municipal regulations across the boroughs of the new city of Montreal;

In order to respect better the right to freedom of religion, we recommend:

That the current discriminatory practice of refusing the construction of Muslim spaces of worship in residential and the down-town areas be abolished and that the zoning bylaws be promptly harmonized in order to facilitate the application process for inaugurating places of worship in the new City of Montreal and other Québec municipalities;

That the dates of religious holidays for minority religious groups be taken into account by the educational institutions in scheduling exams;

That the municipalities and the government take the necessary measures to compensate for the lack of space allotted to Muslims in cemeteries in order to reduce the exorbitant costs which result from the current situation.

1.1.5. Recommendations as to political participation

Considering that the present Coalition is comprised of several Muslim associations;

Considering our will to take a more active part in provincial political life and the need to appoint Muslims in collaboration with our community;

Considering on the other hand that competence and credibility are essential in matters of representation;

In order to reinforce political participation within the Muslim community and encourage Muslims to exercise their citizenship fully, we recommend:

That our Coalition be consulted on issues related to the Muslim communities, including the recourse to experts and the appointment of persons responsible for reflecting the realities of the lives of Muslims in Quebec and defending their interests on various advisory committees for ministries.

1.2. Recommendations to the Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux

1.2.1. Recommendations related to health and social services 

Considering the lack of awareness by members of the Muslim community regarding the nature of services offered in the areas of social, family and marital services and of the legal context governing such areas;

Considering the need for social and health service professionals to be informed about certain religious and cultural specificities related to sick and other Muslim beneficiaries;

To compensate for these deficiencies, we recommend:

That the services of the MSSS and the SPVM, in collaboration with resource persons designated by our Coalition, set up a program aimed at raising the awareness of Muslim communities regarding the legal context surrounding conjugal violence, youth issues and other social problems, as well as to the services offered in these fields;

That these same services provide, in collaboration with resource persons designated by our Coalition, adequate training to their own personnel to raise awareness to the cultural and religious specificities, in the treatment, the caregiving and support of Muslims suffering from illness, loss of autonomy, and those in palliative care; to women and children who have been victims of violence; to youths undergoing difficulties and/or facing delinquency problems;

That the social and health services have recourse to Muslim experts designated by our Coalition in relation to food prescriptions, palliative care, autopsies and burials.

1.2.2. Recommendations in relation to the work of the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse –(Youth protection services)

Considering that some difficult cases involving Muslim children in foster families could have been approached and resolved in a more flexible manner;

Considering that, despite efforts undertaken in this respect, social workers still lack sensitivity to the Islamic culture;

Considering the need to raise awareness in Muslim communities in order to increase the number of Muslim foster families, to explain eligibility criteria and render more accessible the interpretations of laws;

Considering that not all non-Muslim foster families are aware of the specific food prescriptions and other religious obligations, the violation of which constitute compromise Muslim children’s rights;

In order to avoid family tragedies resulting from DPJ interventions and to work towards moving the DPJ closer to the Muslim communities, we recommend:

That the DPJ set up an intervention program targeting the various associations representing Muslim communities, the goal of which would be to explain and clarify the legal context of youth protection in Québec and its ensuing rules;

That this program be extended to all regions of the province that feel the need for it and request it;

That a program be set up in order to raise awareness among agents of the  DPJ, social services, and police corps working in the area of youth protection of certain cultural specificities that should be taken into account in the assessment of various real-life situations;

That the DPJ collaborate with Muslim associations across Québec in an effort to select Muslim foster families on which the DPJ can count in cases where Muslim children need to be fostered;

That a follow-up program be set up in order to evaluate the accomplished work and maintain a dialogue between the Muslim communities and various agents working in the field of social services.

1.3. Recommendations to the Ministère de l’éducation

1.3.1 Recommendations as to reasonable accommodations to ensure religious freedom:

Considering that some educational institutions persist in their refusal to grant a space for prayer to Muslim students in the name of secularism;

Considering that freedom of religion is a basic right that is enshrined in the Québec and Canadian Charters; 

Considering the legal obligation of reasonable accommodation and the March 2003 Brief by the Comité sur les affaires religieuses entitled ”Religious rites and symbols in the schools”;

Considering that the swimming course is not compulsory and that it conflicts with Muslims’ dress code as it applies both to young boys and girls;

In the interest of all and in order to avoid wasting efforts on the same question;

In order to compensate for the shortcomings in the area of reasonable accommodation, we recommend:  

That the MEQ promptly remind all institutions of their legal obligations as regards the respect of people’s freedom of religion and the legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodation as concerns prayer space, dress code, and swimming courses.

1.3.2. Recommendations as to multicultural and citizenship education

Considering that misconceptions and prejudices against Islam and Muslims persist in both insidious and open forms;

Considering that the participation of Muslims parents and professionals in the educational sector remains considerably limited;

Reiterating the responsibility and commitment of the Muslim community to continue the work of integration and promotion of full citizenship;

To compensate for the deficiencies surrounding the issue of multicultural education, we recommend:

That, working in close collaboration with resource persons recommended by this Coalition, a permanent program be set up to raise the awareness of educational institutions’ personnel as to the various forms of cultural and religious diversity;

That Muslim experts designated by our Coalition be invited to hold awareness-raising activities regarding Islam and the Muslim culture, to be organized by the MEQ, school boards and Cegeps.

1.3.3. Recommendations as to equal access to employment

Considering that, despite legal prescriptions, the reality of the job market in the education sector remains marked by the under representation of members of visible minorities;

Considering the scope of this under representation among the personnel of schools, more particularly within schools in neighbourhoods with a higher proportion of students from diverse ethnic backgrounds;

Considering the psychological and economic impact of discrimination on applicants to positions in the education sector;

Considering the positive psychological impact on students belonging to visible minorities of seeing members of their communities among the professoral corps and administrative staff,

To compensate for these deficiencies, we recommend:

That the Ministry demonstrate real political will regarding the application of the law on equal access to employment by seeing to it that the practical requirements of this law are fulfilled;

That the Ministry see to the reinforcement of the rules of accountability which guide administrators and people in charge of the recruitment and promotion of members of visible minorities;

That a committee be set up to conduct an annual follow-up on the recruitment of visible minorities and that precise figures be published regarding the recruitment, promotion and retention of personnel belonging to visible minorities at all levels in the annual reports of the MEQ as well as other educational institutions;

That corrective measures be promptly adopted in order to ensure a strict observance of the equal access to employment legislation and to achieve better representation of visible minorities within the educational institutions affected by the law on equal access to employment.

1.3.4. Recommendations as to the representation of Islam, the Muslim world and Muslims in MEQ-approved textbooks

Considering that the grid used by the Bureau d’approbation du matériel didactique (BAMD), despite its undeniable success in reducing stereotypes and biases regarding visible minorities, does not allow the elimination of the ethnocentric representations of the content in some textbooks;

Considering that the Muslim world’s contributions to the universal civilization are not recognized to their full worth as a result of the interplay of various mechanisms such as total omission, omission of the source of the inventions and the outright appropriation of Muslim inventions by the West;

Considering the negative impact of the biased representation of Islam, the Muslim world and the persistence of the stereotypes and the negative image of the Muslim as a “foreigner” or a “newly-arrived immigrant” in some textbooks on both the self-perception of Muslim students and the attitude of other students towards them;

In order to compensate for such deficiencies, we recommend:

That the Ministry make the study of the Muslim world compulsory rather than optional and diluted within a general problematic;

That the MEQ finance research studies on the representation of Islam, the Muslim world and Muslims in Québec through a thorough content analysis of textbooks in order to identify the prejudices and historical inaccuracies and to highlight Muslim contributions to the universal civilization.

That the MEQ make specific recommendations about the presentation of Islam, the Muslim world and Muslims in Québec by sending very precise instructions to textbook publishers and consulting qualified researchers and Muslim experts designated by our Coalition;

That Muslim experts designated by our Coalition be consulted on questions related to the representation of the Muslim world and Muslims in Québec in school programs;

That more effort be devoted to the promotion of multicultural education in relation to Islam and Muslims in Québec in collaboration with experts designated by our Coalition;

1.4. Recommendations to the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ)

1.4.1. Recommendations as to the legal obligation of reasonable accommodation

Considering that some educational institutions persist in refusing to grant Muslim students a space for prayer in the name of secularism and in direct and clear violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion as it is enshrined in the Québec and Canadian Charters;

Considering the legal obligation of reasonable accommodation and bearing in mind the March 2003 Brief by the Comité sur les affaires religieuses entitled “Religious rites and symbols in the schools”;

Considering that swimming lessons are not compulsory and that such an activity conflicts with Muslims’ dress code as it applies both to young boys and girls;

In order to compensate for the deficiencies in the area of reasonable accommodation, we recommend:

That the MEQ promptly remind all institutions of their legal obligations as regards the respect of people’s freedom of religion and the legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodation as concerns prayer space, dress code, and swimming courses

1.4.2. Recommendations as to multicultural education

Considering that education plays a key role in the building of a Québec society that is richer with its ethno-cultural and religious diversity and more tolerant of this diversity;

Considering the widespread misconception of the notion of secularism by the decision-makers of some educational institutions and journalists;

Considering the lack of real understanding on the part members of the Muslim communities of the legal culture of Québec in general and of their rights and freedoms in particular;

Considering on the other hand that the prevalence of misconceptions and prejudices regarding Islam and Muslims does not promote the integration and encourage the full citizenship of Muslim communities within the Québec society;

In order to compensate for the lacunaae in the area of multicultural education, we recommend:

That be encouraged the values which promote a wider inclusion of ethno-cultural and religious minorities through a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of harmonious multicultural relations within a pluralist society especially, in our case, through the financing and distribution of books and pamphlets which would be written in collaboration with this Coalition and which would describe more accurately the realities of the Muslim communities of Québec;

That the CDPDJ lead, in collaboration with our Coalition and community media, an information campaign on the rights of citizens when faced with the police and security corps in the communities’ various native languages as well as in the two official languages, and ensure a larger distribution of educational material adapted to the characteristics of ethno-cultural and religious communities that do not necessarily share the legal culture of Québec;

That the CDPDJ offer a training program on how to defend their rights to the more vulnerable members of the communities, such as women wearing the headscarf, as they are most likely to suffer from discrimination;

That the CDPDJ publicize widely the conclusions of its enquiries into discrimination cases, as well as the tribunals’ decisions in such cases;

That the CDPDJ organize in collaboration with the CHRC, other public institutions, researchers and our Coalition symposia on equal access to employment, secularism and freedom of religion for the visible minorities of Québec.

1.4.3. Recommendations as to employment

Considering that the CDPDJ is invested with the task of seeing to it that the Law on equal access to employment is applied;

Considering that, despite this law, the reality of the job market is still marked by discrimination against members of visible minorities;

Considering the psychological and economic impact on the victims of discrimination and their families and that employment remains the best guarantor of successful integration into society and the promotion of full citizenship;

In order to compensate for the deficiencies in this matter, we recommend:

That the CDPDJ adopt and implement a program for training in cultural and religious diversity as concerns those responsible for recruiting personnel in the organizations targeted by Law 143, and further encourage both public and private employers to consider training in the management of cultural and religious diversity as a priority in order to allow the Québec economy to profit from the competence of the available work force in all its diversity;

That the CDPDJ adopt a more proactive attitude as regards the application of the law on equal access to employment by requiring exhaustive annual assessments of its implementation by virtue of the powers invested in it in this matter;

That the CDPDJ advocate the reinforcement of the rules of accountability of administrators and officials in the Québec public, para public and governmental organizations sectors a regards matters of recruitment, promotion of members of visible minorities as well as their follow-up ;

That the CDPDJ advocate corrective measures upon receiving the data on equal access to employment in order to ensure the true compliance with the law by the organizations that are targeted by it;

That the CDPDJ require all organizations targeted by Law 143 to publish exhaustive annual reports regarding the application of this law in order to assess the attainment of the quantitative objectives regarding recruitment, training, and promotion for all categories of jobs (executive, administrative…).

1.4.4. Recommendations as to justice

Considering that the context of the past years has led to an unprecedented targeting of members of the Muslim community and the erosion of their rights under the pretext of security;

In order to compensate for these deficiencies, we recommend:

That the CDPDJ explore, in consultation with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Ligue des droits et libertés and community associations, the legal means to challenge the anti-democratic laws (law C-36 whose sunset clauses are to be reviewed this year, Bill C-18 on citizenship and its revocation) which have seriously affected the basic rights of all citizens, but which target Muslims in particular; 

1.4.5. Recommendations as to the follow-up work

Considering the importance of ensuring the systematic follow-up of decisions made by the Commission and by the courts, as well as the work to be undertaken in collaboration with our Coalition;

Considering that the October 15, 2003 meeting was the first of its kind, which resulted in the appointment of Mrs. Pothier as the contact person for our communities;

Reiterating the responsibility and commitment of our Coalition to ongoing future collaboration with the Commission, we also recommend:

That the CDPDJ set up a committee to follow up on court decisions as pertains to cases of discrimination;

That the CDPDJ establish a plan for bi-annual meetings with our Coalition to assess actions undertaken jointly and to review court decisions, as well as to plan future actions for the short, medium and long terms.

II. Recommendations at the federal level

2.1. Recommendations to the federal government

Considering that education and awareness-raising measures promote social cohesion and help to eliminate religious, racial, and cultural prejudices; 

Considering that the efforts made to regarding issues of multiculturalism, intercultural bridging, and anti-discrimination have not been targeted at Muslim Canadians; 

Considering that Muslim Canadians are ostracized and that they suffer from various forms of discrimination and Islamophobia within society, particularly from the media; 

Considering that job discrimination affects certain minority groups, including Muslim people who remain widely under-represented within the public service and other sectors; 

Considering how members of Muslim communities have been rendered vulnerable due to the passing of security laws and measures in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, in Canada and abroad, and how such laws and measures have significantly changed their perception and practice of their citizenship;

While reiterating the responsibility and commitment of the Muslim community to continue the work of integration and promotion of full citizenship;

To compensate for these deficiencies, we recommend : 

That a clear political commitment be made on the part of senior federal legislative and governmental instances to denounce all forms of discrimination against Muslim citizens and residents of Canada, and that this commitment be transmitted to all levels of government;

That there be an unequivocal reaffirmation, to be reflected by State practices, of the full citizenship, with its rights and obligations, of Muslim citizens and residents of Canada;

That unequivocal instructions be given to agencies in charge of security and immigration to remind them of their obligation to adhere to the Canadian Charter of Rights, without discrimination or the kind of zeal which can be injurious to members of Muslim communities;

That Law C-36 be repealed

That the right of appeal of asylum seekers be respected as stipulated by Immigration Law

That Canada renounce the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S. and stop the deportation of refugee seekers to the US without having the assurance that they will not be detained and that they will be able to return to make their applications on the scheduled date;

That Canada, as a signatory to the International Convention against torture, respect this commitment by no longer deporting individuals nor allowing their deportation by the US to countries known for practicing torture

That a serious, critical and transparent study, to be conducted under the auspices of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, be made of the impact on basic human freedoms and rights, specifically of members of Muslim communities:

-Of laws, rules and policies pertaining to security, justice, police, and immigration instances adopted since the events of September 11, 2001, in particular those relating to the presumption of innocence and to the free access of the defense to all incriminating evidence and documents;       

-Of the risk of abuse of power involved in revoking Canadian citizenship;

-Of the discretionary power immigration judges and other decision-makers hold;

-Of the selection and nomination processes for immigration judges and their level of respect for procedural rules.

That every error or abuse from security services, including the RCMP, CSIS or any other governmental body, be admitted and that the officer or the body responsible for the error or the abuse be held accountable;

That detailed measures be adopted and implemented in order to ensure the legal and consular protection and support of Muslim citizens during their trips and visits to foreign countries, particularly the United States of America;

That the government increase both the human and financial resources of the Canadian Human Rights Commission so that it may better perform its duties;

That the Canadian multiculturalism programs be significantly extended in order to ensure a better awareness-raising to Muslim culture and a more efficient fight against Islamophobia and the exclusion of Muslims;

That a cultural and religious diversity awareness-raising and training program regarding Islam and Muslims be set up for the public, security services, the bench, and immigration judges in collaboration with our Coalition;

That Canadian Heritage finance the printing and distribution of documents (books, pamphlets, etc.) on the topic of Muslims and Islam in Canada in order to help dispel some of the myths concerning the Muslim community in Canada;

That concrete steps aimed at reducing the under representation of members of Muslim groups in political, administrative, and technical jobs under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government or its agencies, including security, immigration, diplomacy, and national defense services be taken;

That an enhanced monitoring committee for the application of the “Contractual Obligation Clause” included in the Federal Employment Equity Act Program should be created;

That a direct line for dialogue be set up between the federal government and our Coalition to ensure the follow-up of the measures initiated by the Canadian government.

2.2. Recommendations to the Canadian Human Rights Commission 

2.2.1. Recommendations as to human rights and multicultural education 

Considering the essential role of education in building a society rich with ethno-cultural and religious diversity and more tolerant of this diversity; 

Considering also that the prevalence of prejudicial attitudes towards Islam and Muslims prevents the full integration of members of the Muslim community into Canadian society as well as inhibits their reinforcement of their full citizenship; 

Considering the lack of thorough knowledge of the Canadian legal culture on the part of members of the Muslim communities, particularly the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;

To compensate for the deficiencies in multicultural education, we recommend: 

That the Commission promote values which encourage a greater inclusion of ethno-cultural and religious minorities through raising public awareness of the importance of harmonious ethno-cultural relations in a pluralistic society;

That the Commission launch, in collaboration with our Coalition and Muslim media, a campaign to inform Muslims, in their native languages and in both official languages, about citizens’ rights in light of the laws passed in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, and about how to deal with the police and security services;

That the Commission widely distribute information material on citizens’ rights in Canada to people who are not familiar the Canadian legal culture;

That the Commission offer a training program on how to defend their rights to the most vulnerable members of the Muslim community, such as women wearing the headscarf, as they are most likely to suffer from discrimination;

That the Commission publicize more widely within the Muslim community the results of its investigations of discrimination cases and court decisions, and its guide A place for All on employers’ and employees’ obligations with regard to reasonable accommodations;

That the Commission, in collaboration with the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, public organizations, researchers, and our Coalition, hold symposia on discrimination in employment, secularism, freedom of religion, and the security laws passed in the aftermath of September 11.

2.2.2. Recommendations as to employment 

Considering that the Commission is invested with the power to oversee the application of the Federal Employment Equity Act;

Considering that, despite this law, the reality of the job market is still marked by the under-representation of visible minorities in both the private and public sectors; 

Considering the psychological and economic impact of job discrimination on its victims and their families and the importance of employment as a guarantor for integration into society and for the reinforcement of full citizenship; 

To compensate for these deficiencies, we recommend: 

That the Commission adopt and implement a cultural and religious diversity training program for recruitment officers from all institutions affected by the Federal Employment Equity Act and further encourage both public and private employers to consider training on the management of cultural and religious diversity as a top priority;

That the Commission see to the reinforcement of the rules that hold public and parapublic sectors’ managers and officials, governmental bodies and private employers accountable for recruiting, promoting, and keeping members of visible minorities for all types of positions;

That the Commission promptly impose corrective measures upon obtaining data on the application of equal access to employment programs to ensure a better representation of all the visible minorities in the organizations affected by the law, and actively monitor that recruitment;

That the Commission require all the employers to whom the Federal Employment Equity Act applies to publish exhaustive annual reports detailing recruitment, professional training, promotion, and keeping of the members of visible minorities for all types of jobs to verify the actual degree of the attainment of objectives in this regard.

2.2.3. Recommendations as to justice 

Considering that the past few years’ context lead to an unprecedented targeting of members of the Muslim community and to the erosion of their rights under the pretext of security; 

Considering the laws passed (e.g. Act C-36 whose sunset clauses will be reviewed this year) and those in the process of being passed (e.g. Bill C-18 on citizenship and its revocation); 

To compensate for these deficiencies, we recommend: 

That the Commission, in consultation with the Québec Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, human rights’ groups, the Bar association, and our Coalition, identify the legal means of challenging the constitutionality of the laws that infringe on the basic rights of citizens, and which target Muslims in particular.

2.2.4. Recommendations as to follow-up  

Considering the importance of ensuring a systematic follow-up of the Commission’s decisions and the work to be undertaken in consultation with community-based groups; 

While reiterating the responsibility and commitment of our Coalition to undertake and maintain a serious collaboration with the Commission; 

We also recommend: 

That the Commission establish a follow-up committee to the tribunals’ decisions on racial discrimination and profiling;

That the Commission set up a plan for biannual meetings with our Coalition to assess jointly undertaken actions and court decisions relating to complaints of discrimination, and to plan short, medium, and long-term actions.