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Hijab Saves Canada and its Cherished Multicultural Values
4-09-2014
On April 7, 2014, Quebec Voters gave former Premier, Pauline Marois, and her Parti-Quebecois, a party which thrives on politics of hatred, and divide, exactly what they deserved – A Boot – Bien fait les Quebecois!
An early election for a minority government, in power for less than 2 years of governance, what Pauline Marois, and PQ may have thought, as most experts suggested, a gamble. It was more than a gamble. It turned out to be a game of Russian Roulette with the voters, where voters blew Pauline Marois, defeated in her own riding, and her PQ away from Quebec’s legislature. Obliterating them completely from Montreal, Quebec’s largest city, and home of Canada’s second largest Muslim population, was “Painted Red” with Liberal Colours. A party which stood against PQ recently introduced Bill 60, Quebec Secular Charter, a miserable attempt to undermine minority rights, redefine Canadian Charter, by restricting head gears in the public sector.
It did not sit well with Quebeckers. Francophone, Anglophone, and Allophone in Quebec united together, spoke unequivocally through the power of their votes, sending a clear and concise message to, not only the politicians in Quebec, rather politicians across the country, who may have such aspirations of their own, i.e. redefining Canadian values, based on religious beliefs, creating a multi-standard Canadian Charter, where minorities, especially Muslim women who wish to wear Hijab, at the bottom of the totem pole – Watch Out!
Pauline Marois and her PQ underestimated Quebec voters, questioning their intelligence. Rather than dealing with real issues, such as Economy, Job Creation, Health, Education, Senior Care, Security, Taxes etc. They tried to lure the Quebec separatists’ votes by targeting the minority, Jews, Sikhs, and Muslims. The gamble did not payoff. We can fool some people some of the time, most people, most of the time, but not all the people, all the time.
The Liberal leader, Quebec’s new premier-elect, Mr. Phillipe Couillard , who ran an election on a platform, “the Premier for all Quebeckers” said in his victory speech, “the time of division is behind us,” and told immigrants who came to Quebec from around the world that “you are at home here.”
Ihsaan Gardee, executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, added their voice, “They need to continue to communicate the message that Quebec is a welcoming and open society and that people who come to Quebec will not have to choose between their religious identity and their potential employment.”
However, Ms. Marois and her PQ needs to be commended for ensuring that they pull all the punches. To convince Quebec voters that minorities, especially Muslims were threat to Quebec and Canada, by making statements like ‘There is a risk’ in radical Islam, Pauline Marois says, after poll showed half believed Islamic fundamentalism threatens Quebec, making headline on March 18, National Post.
On the other hand, “Politics makes strange bedfellows.” Ms. Marois attracted five high profile Muslim candidates, to run in the elections on PQ, platform, in predominantly Francophone ridings, four of whom were women, validating their theory of hatred and divide, and stance against Hijab.
PQ even went further by not running a PQ Candidate against Ms. Fatima Houda-Pepin, a prominent Muslim MNA in Quebec Legislature since 1994 who has won the riding in past, five times, without much struggle under the Liberal. Since the introduction of PQ Secular Charter, and her disagreement with the Liberal, broke away from the party and sat as an independent. This time, she ran as an independent, as a professional courtesy for her support. She was finally defeated by Liberals, Gaetan Barrette, on April 7, by more than 15,000 votes, in riding La Piniere.
As for PQ’s high profile Muslim Candidates, all of them, defeated miserably.
Top of the list among PQ Star Muslim candidates, Leila Mahiout, a prominent figure in Quebec Arab Community, originally from Algeria, was defeated by the Liberal Candidate, Rita de Santis, in Riding, Bourassa-Sauve by more than 12,000 Votes.
PQ, Evelyn Abitbol, also from North Africa, former press secretary of Lucien Bouchard, founder of federal party, Bloc Quebecois, was defeated in Riding, Acadie, by Liberal Christine St-Pierre, by more than 20,000 Votes.
PQ, Djemila Benhabib, known for her book, “My Life Against Koran,” running in Arab Community’s stronghold, Riding, Mille-iles, Laval, was crushed at the polls by Liberal Francine Charbonneau by more than 8000 votes.
PQ, Yasmina Chouakri, Research Associate at the Chair for Research on Immigration, Ethnicity and Citizenship at UQAM, Riding, Anjou-Louis Riel, also faced defeat at the hands of the Liberal, Lisa Theriault with more than 9000 votes.
PQ, Muslim male candidate, Algerian Born, Immigrant was defeated in predominantly strong Arab Riding of St. Laurent, by Jean Marc Fournier, Liberal, by more than 27,000 votes.
On the other hand we would like to congratulate 2 Muslim incumbent MNA, on their re-elections from predominantly Francophone stronghold ridings, of Quebec City’s Louis St, Hebert, Samer Hamd-Allah, originally from Damascus, Syria, on Liberal platform, beating PQ, Mario Asselin by 9000 votes, and Montreal’s Mercier Riding, Amir Khadir, originally from Iran, of Quebec Solidaire, retaining its two seats in the legislature. During election campaign PQ had demanded an apology from him for calling its star candidate Pierre Karl Péladeau with Ayatollah Khomeini.
In essence, what this election revealed is that Quebeckers, especially the francophone voter are tired of separatists’ attempts to part away from Canada, especially at the despicable attempts to undermine minority rights, especially of Muslims.
What this election also revealed politician bashing Islam, Muslims, especially Muslim Women and their right to wear hijab failed miserably in France, and it will not be tolerated in Canada.
In fact, what the election results in Quebec revealed is that PQ despicable and deplorable attempt to make Hijab the central focus of its campaign, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Quebec and Canada, saving all of us from what could have been anther separation referendum.
In essence, Hijab saved the day for Canada, and its precious and cherished values of inclusiveness and tolerance; values which make Canada unique on international level, let us celebrate.
We would like to thank Ms. Pauline Marois, and her PQ for setting an example for the rest of the Canada and Canadian politicians for years to come not to follow your suite.
At the end we would like to Thank Quebeckers, for speaking out so loud and clear against Islamophobes with the power of your votes – determining what Canadian values should be and how to defend and protect it.
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