Anti-Islamophobia plan sent back to regional staff over lack of funding, bylaws

A plan to better support Waterloo region Muslims and protect them against Islamophobia was sent back to staff on Wednesday night after the Coalition of Muslim Women KW pointed out the plan lacked funding and bylaws with teeth.

The staff report that went before council on Wednesday recommended actions of solidarity such as joining the green square campaign — in commemoration of the victims and survivors of the Quebec City mosque shooting — as well as using local art spaces to showcase Islamic heritage.

It also included anti-hate training for regional staff and working with area municipalities to address Islamophobia in a collective approach.

The report came after the coalition presented a list of recommendations to regional and municipal councils in October 2021 to help tackle hate targeting Muslims and racialized community members. Regional council asked staff to consider the recommendations and report back on how they can be implemented.

Executive director Fauzia Mazhar said the report staff have been working on since October does consider most of the organization's recommendations, however key items were missing; specifically new bylaws to better protect racialized citizens and long-term funding of the coalition's hate and discrimination reporting and support program.

Existing bylaw, no new funding

Instead of recommending new municipal bylaws to protect people from harassment, as Mazhar said her organization had recommended, regional staff suggested reinforcing an existing bylaw that addresses the conduct of people on regional property. The bylaw allows regional officers to remove people from properties who engaged in prohibited activity such as using profane language and racial slurs.

But Mazhar said she's unfamiliar with the bylaw and has questions.

"What we don't know is if it was ever used … or any penalties, we don't even know if people know in the community about this bylaw," she told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

Mazhar also asked the region to commit to long-term funding of its hate and discrimination reporting and support program. She stressed that this work is not only about supporting her organization but the community as a whole.

Meanwhile, regional chair Karen Redman told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo that new bylaws aren't off the table.

"We absolutely will explore them. There is no doubt that there is a role for area municipalities to play as well. So I think you will see us collaborating with area municipalities to see what we can do so that we're all on the same page," said Redman.

Council directed staff to incorporate the proposed amendments as submitted by Mazhar, and return with the results next month.