Our London Family Act was first introduced in 2022 in response to a rise in hate-motivated incidents and attacks, including the tragic killing of four members of the Afzaal family in an act of terrorism on June 6, 2021.
The bill was developed through an extensive process of consultation with those affected by Islamophobia, racism and hate. It includes the following measures:
- New tools and strategies for Ontario schools to combat all forms of racism, including Islamophobia.
- A provincial review of hate crimes and hate-motivated incidents in Ontario.
- Safe Zones around religious institutions, which are often the targets of intimidation and hate motivated demonstrations.
- Empowering the Speaker to ban protests at Queen’s Park that incite hate.
- Dismantling white supremacist groups by preventing them from registering as societies.
- Establishing an Ontario Anti-Racism Advisory and Advocacy Council to make sure racialized communities have a say on government policies that impact their lives.
Unfortunately, Our London Family Act was never debated at Queen’s Park, and must be re-introduced in order to move forward.
Two years after its initial introduction, at a time of surging Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, we want to hear from you about what actions the government should take to address Islamophobia, racism and hate, and whether changes to Our London Family Act are needed.
London MPPs Peggy Sattler, Terence Kernaghan, and Teresa Armstrong are hosting a consultation to hear from members of the community. We invite you to present for up to 5 minutes on what the province's priorities should be in addressing Islamophobia.
- Are there new or unique challenges facing Muslim communities since Our London Family Act was tabled in 2022?
- Do the measures proposed in Our London Family Act address those challenges?
- Are there additional measures to tackle Islamophobia or hate that should be included in an updated version of Our London Family Act?
- What are the most effective strategies to prevent Islamophobia, racism and hate?
- How can the government strengthen the way we respond to reported incidents of racism and hate?
If you would like to attend without presenting, please RSVP here.
WHEN
4 - 6pm: Presentations
6 - 7pm: Social hour