January 29 is the National Day of Remembrance for the Quebec City Mosque attack in 2017. This tragic event took the lives of innocent worshippers and shook the nation.

“The 2017 attack on the Quebec City Mosque left deep scars on us all. As a society, we can’t keep telling ourselves that these attacks won’t happen here at home, because we’ve seen that they do,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “In fact, over the past several years we’ve seen a sharp rise in hate-motivated incidents here in Canada. We must confront the root causes of this rising tide of hate, whether it’s xenophobia, racism, or religious intolerance. It’s up to us to take a stand against hate and bigotry, and to call it out anytime we see it, whether it’s in person or online.”

The rise of hate in Canada is an alarming trend that demands urgent attention and collective action. There has been a disturbing increase in hate crimes in recent years, including those targeting religious, racial, and ethnic minorities. The National Council of Canadian Muslims has also reported a sharp rise in Islamophobic incidents since October 7, 2023 as a result of the escalating violence in Palestine and Israel. This surge in hateful incidents underscores the need for a comprehensive and unwavering commitment to combat all forms of hate and discrimination.

“We honour the lives lost on January 29, 2017, and since, by standing united against discrimination and bigotry within our ranks. This means actively addressing incidents of Islamophobia, whether subtle or overt, as well as the structures that allow it to persist, and working towards creating union spaces where every member is and feels valued and protected,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the CLC. “By fostering a culture of respect and solidarity, unions can contribute significantly to the dismantling of prejudiced attitudes and practices.”

In workplaces, it is crucial to cultivate an environment that values and embraces differences. This includes providing education and awareness to combat stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. It means promoting inclusivity and eliminating barriers in hiring practices, and ensuring that individuals of all backgrounds have equal opportunities for advancement and success in the workplace.

In order to properly reflect the compounding inequities experienced by specific communities, the federal government must update the Employment Equity Act. The collection and analysis of disaggregated data is critical to applying an intersectional lens to the updated Act.

The government must also take action on the thirty recommendations submitted by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in their report Taking Action Against Systemic Racism and Religious Discrimination Including Islamophobia.

“It’s easier to stand together against hate, than to stand alone. We call upon all Canadians to actively engage in dismantling hate, and to promote understanding, empathy, and solidarity. Working together, we can build a Canada where every individual, regardless of their background, can live free from the fear of discrimination and violence,” said Bruske.

Take action:

• Read and share CLC’s report on confronting Islamophobia in our workplaces and communities: Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities. The report includes recommendations for employers, unions, and government on how to address this issue;

• Show your solidarity by wearing a green square and joining the National Council for Canadian Muslim’s Green Square Campaign;
• Learn more about Islamophobia in Canada and its impacts.

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Canada is facing a crisis: Statistics Canada data released earlier this year showed a record jump in hate crimes against 2SLGBTQI+, Muslim, and Jewish communities in 2021. This number continues to increase. This includes an alarming rise in incidences of hate and hate crimes, divisive ideologies, and racist, prejudicial, and discriminatory acts, both online and offline. It is crucial for all Canadians to urgently come together, to confront and combat this hate head-on. 

Canada’s unions are urging the federal government to take immediate action to put an end to the rise of hate in this country. This includes releasing its National Action Plan on Combatting Hate, a much-needed tool to help combat the rapid increase and spread of hate.  

Hate speech also continues to thrive online. This environment allows white supremacist, fascist, and right-wing extremist groups to organize and spread hate-based rhetoric and ideologies, quickly and effectively. The federal government must release its long-promised online harms bill, aimed at countering the deeply troubling trend of online hate, harassment, and violence.  

To combat rising anti-2SLGBTQI+, anti-inclusion, and pro-violence campaigns across the country, Canada’s unions are also calling for the implementation of all 29 policy recommendations in the White Paper on the Status of Trans and Gender Diverse People.   

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As we mark and reflect on this significant milestone, we must unite against hate in all its forms. Hate—whether rooted in racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, or any other form of prejudice and discrimination—has no place in our society. It undermines the principles of human rights and jeopardizes the very fabric of our society,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). 

Canada’s unions have long been at the forefront of human rights issues and will continue to fight for a more just and equitable future for all.  

“We will not let anyone roll back hard-won human rights. Every worker deserves to live a life free from fear, prejudice, and bigotry. We remain unwavering in our commitment to confronting hate in our workplaces, unions, and communities,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “The ongoing rise of hate requires an urgent response, and we’re calling on the federal government to take concrete steps to protect and preserve human rights in Canada. But we also have a collective role to play in confronting and combatting hate. It’s up to each of us, to stand up to hate when we see it and when we hear it. Only together can we make our workplaces and our communities safer for everyone.” 

Everyone in Canada must do their part to confront and combat hate. Join the fight by: 

• Downloading our Workers in Transition Guide to learn more about how you can support trans people in your workplace.  

• Downloading our report on confronting Islamophobia in our workplaces and communities
  Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities.  

• Learning more about how right-wing extremism and populism are spreading online and in communities across Canada. 

• Sign the #TransEqualityNow petition to tell the federal government they must act. 

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“This day serves as an important reminder of the lethal impacts of Islamophobia and the need for government and all Canadians to commit to taking action against hate for a safer and more inclusive Canada for all,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

Data released by Statistics Canada in 2022 showed a disturbingly sharp increase in reported hate crimes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report showed a 72 percent increase in hate crimes largely targeting religion, race ethnicity, and sexual orientation. This data reflects incidents reported to police, however, many hate crimes and incidents of hate go unreported.  

Hate was already on the rise before the pandemic: Canada saw a rise in activity of right-wing extremists on the ground in communities, but especially online over the course of several years leading up to the pandemic. A 2020 report of findings from a study conducted by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), which tracked the online ecosystems used by right-wing extremists in Canada, showed the growth and expansion of the right-wing extremist movement in Canada between 2015 and 2019. A follow-up report in 2021 showed an increase in activity of right-wing extremists on Facebook, Twitter and 4chan from 2019 to 2020, with the most common ideological subcategory of right-wing extremists operating across online platforms being ethnonationalist.

Ethnonationalist, xenophobic, racist and white supremacist ideology promoted by these growing hate groups has inspired significant violence and has had dangerous and deadly consequences for Muslims. High profile examples of violent incidents include the mosque attack in Quebec City in 2017; the fatal stabbing in 2020 of volunteer Mohamed-Aslim Zafis, as he sat outside the International Muslim Organization in Toronto; and the murder of members of the Afzaal family out for a walk in London Ontario in 2021. This is to name just a few as many other incidents of Islamophobia have followed.

Canada’s unions, along with anti-hate organizations and groups, community members and allies are awaiting the federal government’s introduction of new legislation to address online hate.

“We look forward to seeing government table legislation with sufficient consideration given to the needs of those communities most often targeted and disproportionately harmed by hateful speech,” said CLC Executive Vice-President Larry Rousseau. “Urgent action needs to be taken to confront rapidly growing radicalization, propaganda, hate speech and related violence as soon as possible.”

The labour movement will continue to stand in solidarity with Muslim workers and communities and work with all levels of government in its commitment to advancing anti-Islamophobia efforts and ensuring safer workplaces and communities for all Canadians.

Join us and show your support:

• Join the National Council for Canadian Muslim’s Green Square Campaign to show your solidarity and support for the victims and survivors of the Quebec City mosque attack
• Join or organize a vigil in your community or attend an online event or webinar to mark the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia on January 29
• Watch the “Islamophobia is” video series to learn more about how Islamophobia manifests and is perpetuated

• Read the CLC’s report on confronting Islamophobia in our workplaces and communities: Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities, which includes recommendations for employers, unions, and government on how to address this issue

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January 29 marks the anniversary of a gruesome and deadly day in Canada’s history. On this day in 2017, worshippers at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City were subject to a deadly act of hate when a gunman entered the mosque and opened fire. Six people were killed, and many more injured. Canada’s unions supported community calls to commemorate the anniversary with a national day of remembrance and action.

“We welcome the recognition of January 29 as a day of commemoration, reflection and dialogue, and a strong national reminder of the deadly impacts of Islamophobia and rising hate in Canada,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “But Islamophobia, and anti-Muslim sentiment specifically, have only grown since that terrible day in 2017. We must work together to put an end to the hate rhetoric, violent acts, and harassment of Muslim people in Canada, and the federal government has a responsibility to take the lead.”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of hate crimes reported to police has gone up from 1,951 incidents in 2019 to 2,669 in 2020, with those reported crimes targeting ethnicity or race almost doubling from one year to the next. This shows the highest number of police-reported hate crimes since Statistics Canada began tracking this data in 2009.

On June 6, 2021, five members of the Afzaal family were out for a walk in London, Ontario, when a vehicle attacked them, killing four members and leaving one survivor ꟷ a nine-year-old boy.

“The violent attack on the Afzaal family showed us that we must redouble our efforts to combat Islamophobia and hate in all its forms. Threats, harassment, intimidation and hate speech are also experienced online, where hate spreads easily and rapidly, and goes largely unchecked,” said Larry Rousseau, CLC Executive Vice-President. “Those spewing hate pose a serious threat to the well-being of all workers, especially those who are members of marginalized communities.”

Canada’s unions look forward to seeing the federal government introduce legislation to address online hate as soon as possible in order to properly and effectively help combat this rising issue.

The federal government’s announcement in the Speech from the Throne in November 2021 of a renewed anti-racism strategy, and campaign promise of presenting a National Action Plan on Combating Hate by 2022, must include meaningful and ongoing consultation with Muslim communities to address Islamophobia. The renewed strategy and Action Plan must also incorporate policy recommendations made by Muslim organizations coming out of the National Summit on Islamophobia that took place in July 2021.

Canada’s unions are committed to fighting Islamophobia and all forms of hate, and will continue to work with all levels of government to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all workers.

Show your support:

• Join the Green Square Campaignto remember and stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors of the Quebec City mosque attack;
• Join or organize a vigil in your community or attend an online event or webinar.

Read CLC’s report on confronting Islamophobia in our workplaces and communities: Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities, which includes recommendations for employers, unions, and government on how to address this issue.

The post Federal government must increase efforts to end Islamophobia in Canada appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

The most recent and tragic hate-motivated attack occurred on Sunday in London, Ontario. A Muslim family out for an evening walk were plowed down by a lone driver which resulted in the murder of four family members, and which led to serious injury to the only surviving family member ꟷ a nine-year-old boy.

“I extend our deepest condolences to the family of those who were targeted in this horrific attack,” said Hassan Yussuf, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Our hearts are with Muslim community members in London and across Canada who are forced to make sense of yet another heinous act of violence and terror.”

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of hate crimes targeting several communities have gone up. Toronto Police Service’s annual report released in April 2021 showed a 51% rise in hate crime complaints and arrests in the city ꟷ a sharp increase from previous years. The data reported Jewish and Black community members as the most commonly targeted. The pandemic has also brought with it an increase in anti-Asian attitudes and a rise in hate crimes and violence against Asian communities across Canada.

This rise reflects national police-reported hate crimes data which also show an increase, though Statistics Canada has found that about two-thirds of victims say they do not report.

Anti-Muslim sentiment, rhetoric and violence has only grown since January 29, 2017, when a gunman opened fire inside a Quebec City mosque, killing six worshippers and injuring many more. This day has now been designated as the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.

Jewish community members and groups have also reported an increase in antisemitic rhetoric and acts of hate, including intimidation, threats and harassment of community members.

“We continue to see a highly troubling rise in racist and xenophobic acts, as well as the wide and rapid proliferation of hate online, all of which have devastating consequences for members of religious minority and racialized communities,” said Yussuff. “We look forward to seeing the federal government table legislation to address online hate as soon as possible to help address this phenomenon.”

“Racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia are incompatible with core union values of solidarity, democracy and social justice. Unions and union members have a responsibility to take steps to eliminate hate-motivated violence and harassment in workplaces and in our communities,” said Larry Rousseau, CLC’s Executive Vice-President.

Canada’s unions welcomed the federal government’s addition of violent, far-right extremist groups, including the Proud Boys, the Base, Atomwaffen, and the Russian Imperial Movement, to its list of terrorist organizations in February of this year. Groups such as these pose a severe threat to the safety and wellbeing of all workers, especially those belonging to marginalized communities.

In spite of this progress, there remains much work to be done when it comes to countering the ever-expanding reach of far-right white supremacist groups.

Far-right populist rhetoric espoused by groups such as these has also gained a foothold via anti-mask and anti-lockdown protests, whose attendees’ grievances have centered on a rejection of public health guidelines and orders, and the propagation of notions of government persecution.

“The pandemic is being used as a cover to spread hate and fear, and we must do everything we can to guard against this. This includes actively and rigorously combatting white supremacy and far-right extremism in our communities,” added Rousseau.

Canada’s unions are deeply committed to fighting against the scourge of racism and xenophobia, including Islamophobia, antisemitism and all forms of hate. We will continue to work with all levels of government to protect the safety and wellbeing of all workers, and promote safer and fairer workplaces and communities for all.

For more information on how to confront Islamophobia in our workplaces and communities, read our report: Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities.

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The Proud Boys, the Base, Atomwaffen, and the Russian Imperial Movement have been listed as terrorist entities. This means that these groups can no longer raise money or organize.

“These groups are a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of workers of all backgrounds and specifically to those who are Indigenous, Black, Jewish, Muslim, or who represent other minority communities,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “We have seen a drastic resurgence in far-right extremist behaviour over the past several years. Letting these groups operate unchecked is dangerous and poses a real threat to our democracy and to the wellbeing of our communities. Today’s announcement is a welcome step in addressing this scourge.”

Unions in Canada have a long history of organizing against racism through advocacy and education. But far-right groups have thrived online, and the use of social media in particular has made it difficult to stem their use of misinformation to recruit new members and to mobilize.

Last year and for the first time ever, the federal government added two white-supremacist groups to the list of terrorist organizations.

“The reality is that white supremacist groups have not faced the same scrutiny as other racialized groups and that has allowed them to mobilize with relative freedom and impunity,” added Yussuff. “Furthermore, under anti-terror legislation, stereotypes and guilt by association have led to the over-surveillance of Muslim and Arab communities. Public safety measures must not stigmatize specific communities.”

According to counter-terrorism experts in Canada, there were 100 alt-right or white supremacist groups operating in Canada in 2015. There is widespread concern that those numbers are growing.

“Attacks by white supremacists tend to be targeted, and do not happen in isolation. The climate of hatred they foster puts workers’ health and safety at risk,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President at the CLC. “Incidents of intimidation at work and online harassment are on the rise, and must stop. Everyone deserves to live free from violence and harassment.”

To arrange an interview, please contact:
CLC Media Relations
media@clcctc.ca
613-526-7426

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“Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with Muslim communities across the country in marking the fourth anniversary of this tragic event,” said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We are calling for this national day of remembrance to honour the lives of the victims of this tragedy and to demonstrate a commitment towards confronting Islamophobia.”

Far-right extremism and populism continue to rise rapidly in Canada, and Islamophobia is a central and fueling feature of their rhetoric. As the CLC’s 2019 report on confronting Islamophobia in the workplace showed, numerous right-wing actors have effectively utilized fear and demonization of Muslims and Islam as a means of channeling various economic and social grievances.

It is vile hatred such as this, and the ongoing and sustained vilification of Muslims that led to the horrific attacks such as the one that took place at Quebec City’s Islamic Cultural Centre, as well as the fatal stabbing of a volunteer caretaker at a Toronto mosque in September of 2020.

“It is our collective responsibility to counter Islamophobia and hatred,” said Yussuff. “It is more important than ever to work together and show that there is no place for Islamophobia in our workplaces, nor in the communities in which we live.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated how critical it is for workers to come together for the greater good and ensure the safety and well-being of all Canadians, regardless of religion, ability, race, ethnicity, gender or sexuality. This need for unity extends to our shared obligation to counter hatred, xenophobia and Islamophobia in our communities.

The CLC will be hosting a special webinar “Countering Islamophobia: how to be an ally” on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 1:00 pm EST. Join the webinar.

The post Canada’s unions call for National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

“Canada’s unions stand with the Muslim community today as we mark three years since the deadly attack on a Quebec City mosque.

Our hearts are with the community of Quebec City’s Islamic Cultural Centre, and across Canada and to the friends and families of the six men killed that day.

As we remember this tragedy, we must also remind ourselves of the obligation we all share to challenge racism, Islamophobia and hatred of any kind whenever and wherever we see it.

The CLC is proud to have put together a report to help our members confront Islamophobia in their workplaces. These are difficult but necessary conversations.

We believe that there is no better way to remember the victims and demonstrate our solidarity than designating January 29^th as a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia. This is especially important in the face of the rising right-wing populism we see in the world today.

Racism harms us all.”

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During the federal election campaign, a few parties campaigned on anti-immigrant sentiment and against multiculturalism. Yet all the major political parties pledged to do more to address racism and discrimination in Canada.

“Canadians can be proud that we collectively rejected the right-wing populism that is gripping much of the Western world,” said CLC Vice-President Larry Rousseau. 

“This new minority government must now implement lasting and impactful policies to combat racism and hate that nevertheless continue to exist. Every effort should be made to tear down barriers to success that far too many people face due to their race, ethnicity, religion, or any other identifiable characteristic.”

These were the key commitments made by the various political parties:

• Doubling funding of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy;
• Increasing supports for members of racialized communities seeking good, stable employment;
• Improving data collection around hate crimes;
• Convening a national working group to counter online hate and implementing stricter regulations against platforms that fail to remove hate speech in a timely manner;
• Working with local governments to ensure hate crime units exist in every major city;
• Mandatory training on unconscious bias and cultural competency for judges; and
• Potential civil remedies for victims of hate speech.

Canada’s unions further call on all provinces and municipalities to consult local communities in the implementation and operation of anti-racism directorates or secretariats, all of which should include clear mandates and defined deliverables to combat systemic racism.

“Far too often, discrimination can hold people back in a number of ways, including in employment and overall civic engagement,” said Rousseau. “Communities of colour need concrete action and demonstrated results when it comes to inclusion. With consensus across party lines, we believe now is the time for Ottawa to act. Canadians are clearly ready for this.”

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Not only are they shocking and disturbing, they are deeply hurtful to those of us who have faced racism and discrimination firsthand. It brings to the forefront the injustices committed against people of colour and Indigenous communities in this country for over 150 years.

As a labour leader, I have had to work with whatever government is in power. I have seen the efforts of this particular government in addressing anti-Black racism, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination. While its record hasn’t been perfect, so much has been achieved even though there is clearly more work to do.

It’s now up to the Prime Minister to rebuild Canadians’ trust in him again by continuing to take actions that show the sincerity behind his regret and remorse. Should he be re-elected, his government must commit to a meaningful strategy for dismantling systemic discrimination that keeps far too many people of colour from succeeding in our society.

For the rest of us, it’s critical that now, more than ever, we vote for the Canada we want.

Please learn about what Canada’s unions are calling for in this election, particularly around the issues of equity and inclusion.

Thank you.

Hassan Yussuff
Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of Canada’s unions

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Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities explores the rise of anti-Muslim attitudes and discrimination in Canada. It provides recommendations for employers, trade unions, and government on how to address this pernicious phenomenon.

The report comes just one week after the horrific terrorist attack at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Those attacks were a stark reminder of the urgency of addressing Islamophobia in our communities.

“All of us were deeply shocked by the events last week that saw the murder of 50 people. We can’t condemn such acts without also committing to address the underlying attitudes that lead to the demonization of marginalized communities,” said CLC President Hassan Yussuff.

“Canada’s unions have a long and proud history of advocacy for human rights because discrimination and racism in our communities ultimately impacts on workers and their families. Islamophobia is one of many forms of racism that can poison workplaces but it often does so without stigma. We need to establish better measures to protect workers against individual and systemic discrimination,” said Yussuff.

“We hear all too regularly from Muslims right across the country who face discrimination at work. This impacts their ability to contribute positively and to seek and hold meaningful employment,” said Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director at the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM).

“This report is the first of its kind to examine the underlying trends fueling Islamophobia in the context of workplaces and to include concrete recommendations targeted towards unions, employers, and government. We believe this report will serve as a valuable resource for anyone committed to challenging racism and creating equitable and inclusive workplaces,” added Gardee.

There has been a steady rise of hate crimes targeting Muslim communities in Canada over the past several years. In 2017, a young man consumed by hatred killed six men attending prayers at a Québec City mosque. Alexandre Bissonnette’s name was even cited by the New Zealand terrorist.

That same year, hate crimes targeting Muslims rose by 151 percent across the country. Meanwhile, members of far-right groups continue to mobilize online and offline, organizing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rallies which further demonize these communities.

The report aims to address the impact of this harmful climate on Canadian workplaces with specific recommendations aimed at reinforcing the responsibility of employers to educate management and staff about legal obligations around human rights and religious accommodations; encouraging governments to do more to support anti-racism awareness campaigns and develop strategies to address online hate; and highlighting the important role trade unions must play in championing fairness, equity, and social justice for Muslims in Canada.

“The labour movement has come to recognize that Islamophobia is a threat on far too many levels, including to our very democracy,” said Yussuff. “Workers across Canada must start mobilizing against the forces of fear and hatred. We must not let them succeed in dividing communities and driving people apart. That’s not the Canada we want nor deserve.”

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“On behalf of Canada’s 3.3 million workers, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families and victims of the terrorist attacks on the Muslim houses of prayer in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Canada’s unions are united in grief and outrage at the despicable acts of those espousing white supremacist and fascist ideology.

We express our utmost condemnation of these dangerous movements and are committed to doing all we can to confront all forms of racism, bigotry, and Islamophobia wherever they emerge.

We call on our elected officials and representatives to do all they can to address the rise of far-right extremism and hatred in our communities. These troubling currents are a threat to all of us, and a threat to our very democracy.

We specifically call on elected representatives to distance themselves from any of those who promote or support racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

Every person living in Canada, and anywhere around the world, has the right to feel safe and secure expressing their faith, traditions, and being who they are.”

The post Statement by CLC President Hassan Yussuff on terrorist attack on mosques in New Zealand appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

With hate crimes on the rise, the Canadian Labour Congress is encouraging people to endorse the Charter for Inclusive Communities which promotes “inclusive, just, and respectful communities in Canada”.

Recent data released by Statistics Canada shows that police-reported hate crimes in Canada rose dramatically in 2017, up by 47% over the previous year. Incidents targeting the Muslim community rose by 151%. Hate crimes targeting Jewish people rose by 63% and those targeting Black people rose by 50%.

“The hate crime numbers are profoundly disturbing,” said CLC President, Hassan Yussuff. “Canada has been a proud champion of human rights, at home and abroad. These numbers illustrate the impact of ongoing normalization of hatred. While Canada continues to address its painful legacy of colonialism, it must additionally do more to promote values of diversity, acceptance, and inclusion. We must work collectively to confront all forms of racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia.”

As well, Canada’s unions have joined in the call for January 29^th to be recognized as a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia. The date marks the tragic anniversary of the Quebec mosque massacre in which a gunman killed six people and severely wounded eight more.

In the 2018 budget, the federal government committed to additional funding to help support anti-racism initiatives. In addition to $2 million already allocated to anti-racism engagement, the government announced:

• $21 million was added to strengthen the Multiculturalism program’s resources for anti-racism and discrimination community support. This included additional funding for events and projects that address racism and discrimination with a priority on Indigenous Peoples as well as women and girls;
• $19 million was allocated to enhance local community supports for Black Canadian youth and to develop research in support of more culturally focused mental health programs for Black Canadians.

“It’s imperative that any new funding support the varied needs of communities”, said Yussuff. “This means the federal government must continue to consult with those most impacted by racism, and ensure their voices inform policies intended to remove barriers to participation. This is how we can truly promote inclusive communities.”

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I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be in that sacred space and have that serenity destroyed by a lone gunman, bent on killing as many people as he could.

My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their loved ones that night, the families of Aboubakr Thabti, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Ibrahima Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Azzedine Soufiane and Abdelkarim Hassane. I think of the seventeen children who will no longer have their fathers in their lives. I think of their spouses who have lost their life partners. It truly is heartbreaking and unfathomable.

I think, too, of the nineteen others who were physically injured that night. One of those men is Aymen Derbali, whose story has now become widely known. Aymen deliberately put himself in the shooter’s line of sight in order to distract him away from his fellow worshippers.  He was shot seven times – two bullets are still lodged in his spine. He is a Canadian hero. I’m deeply inspired by his determination to rebuild his life, though he faces many challenges and obstacles as he will never walk again.

The Quebec City Muslim community is still coping with this tragedy; such loss is understandably deeply traumatic and has both short and long-term consequences.

What I hope to express is my personal commitment to counter the attitudes that would lead to hatred and bigotry of any kind. That is why the Canadian Labour Congress joined in the call for a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia. Canada’s unions will continue to work with the National Council of Canadian Muslims, and countless other organizations, to make this happen.

I believe each and every one of us has a responsibility to speak up whenever we hear or see hateful attitudes expressed: in our workplaces, in our social gatherings, in any other day-to-day interactions, and online.

Islamophobia is real. We must face it, and eradicate it, together. Let’s never forget January 29.

– Hassan Yussuff, CLC President

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We’ll be thinking of Rania El Alloul and other Canadian Muslims facing discrimination in their day-to-day lives when we commemorate the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Racism on March 21.

We’ll also be remembering how systemic racism has led to epidemic levels of poverty for Indigenous women and girls, meaning a lack of secure housing, an absence of economic opportunities and limited access to justice.

We’ll remember how on March 6, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) concluded that Canada’s ongoing failure to address the extreme violence against Aboriginal women and girls constitutes a “grave violation” of their human rights.

We’ll remember that black males living in Toronto are three times more likely to be stopped and asked for identification by police. And we’ll remember that employers are about 40 percent more likely to interview a job applicant with an English sounding name.

How are we helping to end racism?

• The labour movement is supporting communities that face discrimination. After 9/11 for example, we worked with Muslim communities to fight widespread Islamophobia.
• We speak out when racism happens – such as when migrant workers are targeted for deportation, when Aboriginal or racialized youth are shot by police, or when racism is behind the denial of housing.
• We bargain anti-discrimination and harassment language in collective agreements, helping to ensure that hiring is fair and that workplaces are free of discrimination.
• We work with governments at all levels for stronger employment equity legislation.
• We use education to fight racism, training our leadership and membership on how to deal with harassment and individual and systemic racism.

​Our government must do more to help end racism.

The CLC is calling on the federal government to face up to the reality of racism in Canada today, by acknowledging its own role in sustaining and promoting systemic and overt discrimination. Here are three ways the government can play a constructive role in ending both systemic and overt racism:

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has joined the call by Aboriginal women and Canadians across the country for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women. It’s time the government listened.

The government must stop using rhetoric and fear mongering that targets Muslim and other racialized communities. The use of terms like “jihadists” and “radical Islam” is irresponsible and sews hatred. This must stop.

The government must meet its international obligations by reporting to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Canada has never met its obligation to report to this committee.

​Challenge the candidates in the next federal election.

When candidates come asking for your vote in the next election, be sure to ask how they feel about racism in Canada and if they’ll commit to taking those first three steps to help eliminate racism in Canada.

Ahead of the election, the labour movement will be challenging all political parties to outline how they will work to eliminate both systemic and overt racial discrimination faced by Aboriginal and racialized communities in Canada.

Quick facts on racism in Canada today:

• 50 percent of First Nations children live in poverty compared to 17 percent for other Canadians.
• Aboriginal workers earn an average of $19,000 compared to $33,000 for other Canadians.
• The infant mortality rate is one and half times higher for First Nations than other Canadians.
• The average life expectancy for Aboriginal women and men is five and nine years less, respectively, than other Canadians.
• Black males living in Toronto are three times more likely to be stopped and asked for identification by police.
• There were 1,401 reported hate crimes in Canada in 2010.
• Employers are about 40 percent more likely to interview a job applicant with an English-sounding name despite identical education, skills and experience.
•  In 2011, the unemployment rate for visible minority workers was 9.9 percent compared to 7.3 percent for non-racialized workers.
• Racialized Canadians also earn an average of 81 cents to the dollar compared to other Canadians.
• 55 percent of Canadians are satisfied that we have overcome racial discrimination.

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