Pursuant to notice of May 23, 2024, moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Al Zaibak:

That the Senate take note:

(a)that Islamophobia includes racism, stereotypes, prejudice, systemic racism, fear or acts of hostility directed towards individual Muslims or followers of Islam in general;

(b)that hatred and discrimination have no place in Canada;

(c)that on November 30, 2023, the Senate unanimously adopted the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, including 13 recommendations, entitled Combatting Hate: Islamophobia and its impact on Muslims in Canada;

(d)that despite their rich and varied contributions to Canadian society, Muslims are often unfairly vilified and marginalized;

(e)that Islamophobia has motivated violent attacks on Muslim communities in recent years in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Mississauga, London, Quebec City and Toronto;

(f)that the National Council of Canadian Muslims reports a disturbing increase in the number of hate incidents since October 2023; and

(g)that in addition to Islamophobia, incidents of anti‑Arab racism have been reported to the police and other public institutions;

That the Senate condemn Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, reaffirm the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms value of equality, and the recommendations of the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, and denounce discrimination based on religion and other Charter-protected grounds; and

That the Senate call on the Government of Canada to fulfill its commitments made in its response, tabled in the Senate on April 26, 2024, to the sixth report of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights and to consider convening, when appropriate, a second national summit to combat Islamophobia, in consultation with Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.