Politics Briefing: Canada’s anti-Islamophobia consultant apologizes for feedback about Quebec

Hi there,

Canada’s new consultant for combating Islamophobia has apologized for feedback which have prompted controversy in Quebec.

“I perceive that the phrases and the way in which that I’ve mentioned them have damage folks,” Amira Elghawaby, talking in English, advised journalists forward of a gathering with Bloc Québécois Chief Yves-François Blanchet on Wednesday.

“I’m listening very fastidiously. I’ve heard you. And I do know what you’re feeling and I’m sorry.”

A number of politicians in Quebec have known as for Ms. Elghawaby’s appointment by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be rescinded due to feedback she made in 2019 opinion piece she co-authored. The column cited polling information to say that “a majority of Quebecers” who supported Invoice 21 additionally held anti-Muslim views.

Earlier this week, Quebec Premier François Legault mentioned Mr. Trudeau is endorsing the contempt she has proven for Quebec by conserving Ms. Elghawaby in her place. Members of the Quebec Nationwide Meeting additionally adopted a movement calling on Ottawa to place an finish to her contract instantly. Story here from The Montreal Gazette.

Earlier Wednesday, Mr. Trudeau made a degree of commenting on the controversy forward of the weekly Liberal caucus assembly, talking very particularly in each French and English.

“Quebecers will not be racists. Quebecers are among the many people who find themselves the strongest defenders of particular person rights and freedoms, together with a whole lot of different Canadians,” Mr. Trudeau mentioned,

However he mentioned what’s wanted now’s individuals who can bridge the 2 realities of a Muslim and bigger neighborhood for whom faith is extraordinarily necessary in a non-public and a public means, and Quebecers uneasy with a number of the authority related to faith.

“It’s tremendous straightforward for folks to simplify and attempt to assault both aspect when what we’d like is a dialog about the truth that all of us agree that rights and freedoms should be protected and the way, in a pluralistic society, a spot of variety and energy, we’re capable of not simply coexist however perceive one another, respect one another’s priorities and needs and construct a greater future.”

He mentioned he is aware of Ms. Elghawaby is open to the discussions required for these objectives.

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TODAY’S HEADLINES

TORIES SET FUNDRAISING RECORD – The Conservative social gathering has set a fundraising report for a non-election 12 months below the brand new management of Pierre Poilievre, and it’s outpacing different federal events. Story here.

ALBERTA’S FORMER CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER HAS A NEW JOB – The previous chief medical officer of well being in Alberta, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, has a brand new short-term position because the deputy provincial well being officer in British Columbia. Story here.

OPPOSITION MPS SEEK CLIENT LISTS FROM MCKINSEY AND CO. – Opposition MPs are asking McKinsey and Co. to reveal its non-public sector shopper record to handle attainable conflicts of curiosity involving tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} of labor for the Canadian authorities. Story here.

COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE NG ETHICS RULING – A parliamentary committee have voted to look at a current ethics ruling in opposition to Worldwide Commerce Minister Mary Ng. Story here.

FORD HOPING FOR HEALTH DEAL SOON – Ontario Premier Doug Ford mentioned Wednesday he hopes the provinces can attain a well being care cope with the federal authorities shortly after their assembly subsequent week with the Prime Minister. Story here.

B.C. ENACTING NEW MEASURES ON REPEAT OFFENDERS – British Columbia’s Legal professional-Common says new groups of Crown prosecutors, police and probation officers will craft higher punishments to make sure repeat violent offenders pose much less of a threat to strangers, whereas additionally serving to these folks get much-needed psychological well being and drug therapies. Story here. In the meantime a longtime former CBC producer has died after a random daytime assault in Toronto’s east finish. Story here from CBC.

YUKON NDP TO BACK TERRITORIAL LIBERALS – The Yukon NDP has renewed its help for the minority Liberal authorities till 2025. On Tuesday, the 2 events introduced they’ve prolonged the boldness and provide settlement (CASA) that they signed in April 2021. Story here from CBC.

THIS AND THAT

TODAY IN THE COMMONS – Projected Order of Enterprise on the Home of Commons, Feb. 01, accessible here.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER’S DAY – Chrystia Freeland attended the nationwide caucus assembly and met with British Columbia Premier David Eby, forward of Prime Minister Jutin Trudeau’s assembly on Tuesday afternoon.

NEW JOB FOR KENNEY – Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney has joined the Bennett Jones regulation agency as a senior adviser primarily based in Calgary. In a tweet here, Mr. Kenney mentioned his relationship with Bennett Jones was reviewed by the Ethics Commissioner of Alberta, and located to be compliant with the Conflicts of Curiosity Act. “I can’t be engaged in lobbying the Alberta Authorities or its companies,” Mr. Kenney wrote. The previous federal Conservative cupboard minister additionally mentioned he will likely be asserting different alternatives within the non-public sector that he’s taking up, all reviewed by the ethics commissioner. Bennett Jones chairman and CEO Hugh MacKinnon mentioned in an announcement that Mr. Kenney brings a unprecedented mixture of management and public coverage expertise to the agency and its shoppers.

BERGEN EXIT – Candice Bergen, who just lately served because the interim chief of the federal Conservatives, has introduced her quick resignation because the MP for the Manitoba driving of Portage-Lisgar, ending a 14-year run within the Home. In a video assertion here, Ms. Bergen mentioned she is not going to be going again into the Commons. “I’m not actually one for lengthy goodbyes,” she mentioned.

NEW PARLIAMENTARY POET LAUREATE – Marie-Célie Agnant has been named Canada’s new Parliamentary Poet Laureate. Ms. Agnant, who’s from Quebec, is the tenth poet to carry the workplace since MPs created the place in 2001 to construct consciousness of the studying and writing of poetry. She succeeds Louise Bernice Halfe – Sky Dancer. Ms. Agnant was chosen from a shortlist generated by a range committee. The laureate’s position contains writing poetry, particularly to be used in Parliament on necessary events, and sponsoring poetry readings.

WILIKINSON AND ENERGY AGENCY DIRECTOR – Pure Assets Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Dr. Fatih Birol, government director of the Worldwide Power Company, held a hearth chat on the College of Ottawa, after which took media questions.

COMMITTEES – The Commons standing committee on authorities operations and estimates was to carry a listening to Wednesday between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. ET into federal authorities consulting contracts awarded to McKinsey and Firm. The one witness is Dominic Barton, a one-time international managing associate on the New York-based consulting big who was additionally a senior coverage adviser to the federal authorities and as soon as Canada’s ambassador to China. Particulars, together with a video hyperlink, here. Please watch The Globe and Mail for updates on the listening to.

PRIME MINISTER’S DAY

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in Ottawa, attended the nationwide caucus assembly and Query Interval, after which was scheduled to fulfill with British Columbia Premier David Eby.

LEADERS

Bloc Québécois Chief Yves François Blanchet held a information convention with the Bloc’s caucus chair and home chief, met with Amira Elghawaby, the particular consultant on combatting Islamophobia, and took part within the standing committee on authorities operations and estimates to query Dominic Barton throughout his testimony.

Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre held a information convention earlier than attending the Conservative caucus assembly, and in addition attended Query Interval.

NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh, in Ottawa, attended the assembly of B.C. members of the social gathering caucus then the NDP caucus assembly, held a information convention and attended Query Interval.

No schedules launched for different social gathering leaders.

THE DECIBEL

Wednesday’s version of The Globe and Mail podcast options characteristic author Jana Pruden on the case of non secular chief John de Ruiter, who calls himself the ‘embodiment of fact’ and was arrested and charged with 4 counts of sexual assault earlier this month. Mr. De Ruiter is a frontrunner of a multimillion-dollar group known as The Faculty of Built-in Philosophy. It’s primarily based in Edmonton however has followers all around the world. The Decibel is here.

OPINION

Andrew Coyne (The Globe and Mail) on how everything isn’t broken, but the government is: “Oh God they’re again. Because the ritual shaking of jowls resumes in Ottawa, we’re reminded once more of how a lot the federal government and opposition are agreed: notably, within the perception that the federal government is answerable for each sparrow that falls, within the economic system specifically. They’ve, certainly, a mutual curiosity in sustaining this fiction: the opposition, as a result of it needs guilty the federal government for every thing that has gone mistaken; the federal government, as a result of it needs to say credit score for every thing that has gone proper. Because it was to start with, is now, and ever shall be, world with out finish. Amen.”

Konrad Yakabuski (The Globe and Mail) on how French transportation giant Alstom wants Ottawa to go all in on a high-speed rail project: “French transportation big Alstom SA is pushing Ottawa to go all-in on high-speed rail service between Quebec Metropolis and Toronto moderately than settling for a less expensive however slower various that might appeal to too few new passengers to make a lot of a distinction. Alstom, which bought Montreal-based Bombardier’s rail unit in 2021, is urging Ottawa to go for a French-style TGV (prepare à grande vitesse) in Canada’s busiest transportation hall to cut back automobile visitors and carbon emissions. Although earlier makes an attempt to carry a TGV to Canada have failed, partially due to opposition from the nation’s airways, Alstom insists the case for high-speed rail will solely get stronger within the face of inhabitants progress, street and airport congestion and local weather change.”

Mehmet Tohti and Margaret McCuaig-Johnston (Contributed to The Globe and Mail) on how we can throw escaped Uyghurs a lifeline by bringing more to Canada: “A whole lot of Uyghurs will likely be within the gallery of the Home of Commons for the vote. If Movement-62 passes, it would give Canadians the concrete measures that Parliament’s earlier vote on the genocide actually calls for. And if cupboard ministers vote in favour, they are going to be giving a powerful sign for significant motion. Canada will likely be main the world in supporting Uyghur refugees at dire threat – folks corresponding to Abdulla Abdulhamit.”

Tom Mulcair (The Montreal Gazette) on Amira Elghawaby being the wrong person for her new job: “Trudeau says she’s there to battle prejudice and construct bridges. She shouldn’t be able to try this and it’s not due to haters, it’s due to what she mentioned. When your job is combating prejudice and also you’ve made statements previously that sound like a mirrored image of your individual prejudice, you withdraw them and, ideally, apologize. You don’t dig in, or attempt to clarify them away. Individuals who know her have spoken to me of Elghawaby’s many qualities and the issue of going from outspoken activist to authorities spokesman. I get it. By her personal refusal to withdraw these remarks, Elghawaby has confirmed that she is simply the mistaken nomination for an important job.”

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