February 22, 2017, Toronto - Tomorrow, the Ontario legislature will debate a motion introduced by Ottawa-Vanier MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers.  I am writing to you to explain why Des Rosiers' Islamophobia motion should not be supported in its current form. 

Filed December 1, 2016, Des Rosiers' motion reads as follows:

"That, in the opinion of this House, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario should reaffirm that diversity has always played an important part in Ontario's culture and heritage; recognize the significant contributions Muslims have made, and continue to make, to Ontario's cultural and social fabric and prosperity; stand against all forms of hatred, hostility, prejudice, racism and intolerance; rebuke the notable growing tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric and sentiments; denounce hate-attacks, threats of violence and hate crimes against people of the Muslim faith; condemn all forms of Islamophobia and reaffirm its support for government's efforts, through the Anti-Racism Directorate, to address and prevent systemic racism across government policy, programs and services, and increase anti-racism education and awareness, including Islamophobia, in all parts of the province." (emphasis added).

The motion package-deals a number of obviously laudable sentiments with a number of falsehoods that are most certainly to be used as a gag order on Members of the Provincial Parliament.

Nobody could take serious exception to such de rigueur platitudes as: the praise of a deliberately ambiguous “diversity”; or the the recognition of contributions by Muslims - as by others - to intentionally vague concepts such as “social fabric”.  Moreover, with the exception of evil or ignorant genetic collectivists who think that their phenotypical features entitle them to praise/reward, or make others deserving of condemnation/punishment, nobody could take exception to the legislature condemning racism.

However, Nathalie Des Rosiers’ motion adds to the mix a false conflation of religion and “race” that should be rejected by all MPPs.  By calling for “government’s efforts, through the Anti-Racism Directorate, to address and prevent systemic racism across government policy programs and services”; and by calling for an “increase [in] anti-racism education and awareness, including Islamophobia” in the context of a motion specifically about Islam and Muslims, Des Rosiers’ motion falsely implies that Islam is a race.  Only a racist, or an ignoramus, or a dishonest person, could submit or imply that Islam is a “race”.  In truth, Islam is a religion practiced, around the globe, by people of all genetic make-ups, and all phenotypical appearances: every skin shade from dark to light, every facial shape, every eye colour, every hair colour, et cetera. 

Des Rosiers’ motion also adds to the mix a mischievous, anti-moral call for a “stand against all forms of hatred…and intolerance”.  Hatred is an emotion.  Hatred is sometimes appropriate: hatred of murderers, liars, and thieves - or, in some cases, for the politicians who make laws or motions to shield such wrongdoers from justice - is not only natural, but quite morally justified.  One wonders whether Des Rosiers would deny hating, say, Adolf Hitler, or those who flew planes into the New York trade towers, if she is truly against “all forms of hatred”.  Likewise, “intolerance” is a refusal to tolerate something, yet Des Rosiers’ own motion is in favour of intolerance of what she ambiguously names “Islamophobia”.

Des Rosiers’ motion also adds to the mix a condemnation of “all forms of Islamophobia”. A phobia is a dislike or fear of something.  Though Des Rosiers does not see fit to define “Islamophobia”, the term “Islamophobia” probably will be used by Des Rosiers and her ilk to refer to any form of fear, dislike, or condemnation of Islam or those who practice it to one extent or another; or to anything that might cause people to fear or dislike Islam or its adherents.  Adding that definition to her insinuation that Islamophobia is a form of racism, Des Rosiers’ motion falsely equates any fear, dislike, or condemnation of Islam - or those who practice it to one extent or another - with racism.  

My concern is that Nathalie Des Rosiers’ motion, if passed, will tend to silence all MPPs who might believe that some aspect of Islam is in need of condemnation; who might in any way state or imply that Islamic dogma is anti-democratic or anti-freedom; who might in any way suggest that Islamic radicals exist; who might in any way remind legislators that there exist Islamic radicals - even in Ontario - who are prepared to take political or violent steps to replace Man-made law with Sharia; MPPs who might in any way suggest that Islamic radicals are prepared to take political or violent steps to replace democracy with theocracy; who might in any way suggest that Islamic radicals are prepared to take political or violent steps to replace individual freedom with mandatory submission to the will of Allah; who might in any way suggest that Islamic radicals are prepared to take political or violent steps to replace the liberation of women with the subjugation of women; who might in any way suggest that Islamic radicals are prepared to murder Jews, homosexuals, secular Muslims, moderate Muslims, and those who leave Islam; etc.. 

I strongly suspect that Nathalie Des Rosiers does not particularly care what effects her motion will have on MPPs’ willingness or ability to defend democracy and individual freedom so long as she achieves some sort of electoral advantage for the Ontario Liberal Party.  I submit that this motion is a disgraceful, irresponsible, and dangerous exercise. 

I morally condemn Nathalie Des Rosiers and the Ontario Liberals for stooping to this level for electoral gain.  By publishing this statement, I am clearly indicating an intolerance of what I regard to be immoral, self-serving and short-sighted pandering.

The purpose of a legislature is to make laws for the defence of every individual’s life, liberty, and property.  Nathalie Des Rosiers’ motion, if passed, would have the effect of pressuring every MPP not to speak of any aspect of Islam - such as the blatantly anti-democratic demand that Sharia (Allah’s commandments) be the only law of the land - as being in any way negative, or in any way something to fear, dislike, condemn, or oppose.  It would have the effect of discouraging any MPP from stating that any attack on democracy or freedom in Ontario is being carried out to further someone’s concept of an Islamic goal.  It would have the effect of gagging MPPs who have proposals for defending every individual’s life, liberty and property from Islam-motivated political or terrorist efforts to undermine or attack democracy and freedom.

All of the above having been said, I must also express condemnation of Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader Patrick Brown’s eager support for Des Rosiers’ motion.  If Des Rosiers hoped that the Patrick Brown PCs would oppose the motion and that the Liberals would then be able to label them racists, that is despicable, but it is no more despicable than Brown’s decision to avoid being called racists by supporting the motion.  In lieu of principle, reason, and courage, Brown folded like a cheap suit.  Having so quickly and unconditionally folded on this obviously manipulative motion, he can be counted upon never to be principled, never to let reason be his guide, never to have a wisp of courage, always to act merely on the expediency of the moment (nobody forgets his multiple flip-flops on inserting psychological “gender” theories into the minds of young biologically male and female children attending elementary schools), and always to sacrifice democracy and freedom in the hope of thereby avoiding electoral defeat.

I call upon each and every MPP - of any and every party - to oppose Nathalie Des Rosiers’ motion in its current form.  Win or lose, those who stand against the motion will have stood in favour of the defence of democracy and of the defence of the freedom of all Ontarians, of every genetic make-up and religion.


About Freedom Party

Freedom Party of Ontario stands for logical, evidence-based government policy that defends every individual's freedom to pursue his or her own happiness by rational means.   For that reason, we stand not for majority rule, but for democracy (laws made by the governed, for the governed), and for the defence of democracy.  Freedom Party has been a registered political party in Ontario since 1984.  It is not affiliated or associated with other provincial parties of any name, and is not associated or affiliated with parties named "freedom party" in any other country.

For further details, contact:  Paul McKeever (party leader)

e-mail: pmckeever@freedomparty.on.ca

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