CAI outraged by racist smear against the first Syrian-Canadian Minister, Omar Alghabra
Toronto, Ontario, January 14, 2021. The Canadian Arab Institute (CAI) denounces the attempts by the Bloc Quebecois to impune MP Omar Alghabra merely for being an Arab and a Muslim. It is hard to believe that in 2021, more than a century after the first Arab immigrant came to Canada (1882), our community continues to endure hateful statements. Our community is outraged that this type of behaviour comes from a well-established federal political party. That is disgraceful and is a repudiation of the values all Canadians hold sacred. Canada is a mosaic of cultural diversity, and our diversity is our strength.
Despite the historic achievement by Minister Alghabra, the first Canadian of Syrian roots to hold this office, he is already experiencing racism that Arabs in Canada know far too well. Arab-Canadians cannot even celebrate historical achievements without having their intentions “questioned.” The Bloc’s thinly disguised dog whistling is a disappointment to voters across Canada, and especially in Quebec, where most Arabs reside.
CAI youth leadership has been working hard to debunk myths about the Arab community in Canada. Arabs are a diverse community that have been a foundational part of building this country. In Quebec, the community is composed of French-Arab-Canadians that include Muslims, Christians, Jews and Druze. Arabs are facing discrimination more than ever before because of right-wing media and political parties that continue to depict us negatively due to our race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs.
Yesterday’s gross accusation has caused Arab-Canadians to reach out to the CAI in record numbers asking how they can help campaign against hate and racism. We will be working with Arab-Canadians to educate them on how to begin to actively donate, vote, and engage politically against racist rhetoric by the next federal election. Our community is here to fight back against hate and discrimination in all its forms.
Over the past two days, the CAI has received calls from political parties seeking to engage Arabs in Canada, and while we are revolted by the Bloc’s comments, we are delighted that it has inspired Arab-Canadian youth to begin engagement civically and politically.
We will be answering the call to work with all federal parties (Liberals, Conservatives, Greens, NDP and even BQ) to ensure the Arab voice is heard loud and clear. Arab-Canadians, like other racialized communities, are tired of having to defend our loyalty to Canada for no other reason than our identity.
About the Canadian Arab Institute
The Canadian Arab Institute is a national nonpartisan organization that focuses on issues and interests of the Canadian Arab community through research, policy, programming and community engagement. CAI celebrates and encourages Arab Canadians' participation in all social, political, cultural and economic aspects of Canadian society
Press Contact:
Shireen Salti, Executive Director of the Canadian Arab Institute
shireen@canadianarabinstitute.org
T: 647-425-7970