443 results for author: Kashif Ahmed

NCCM testifies on national security legislation (Bill C-59)

On December 12, 2017, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) regarding Bill C-59, An Act with respect to National Security Matters, which overhauls Canada's national security laws. Bill C-59 was tabled by the Liberal government in an effort to bring about changes to existing national security laws enacted by the previous government. NCCM Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee and Legal Adviser Faisal Bhabha testified before the committee about this far-reaching legislation. The NCCM's testimony focused on highlighting (1) that evidence of ...

NCCM testifies on national security legislation (Bill C-59)

On December 12, 2017, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) regarding Bill C-59, An Act with respect to National Security Matters, which overhauls Canada's national security laws. Bill C-59 was tabled by the Liberal government in an effort to bring about changes to existing national security laws enacted by the previous government. NCCM Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee and Legal Adviser Faisal Bhabha testified before the committee about this far-reaching legislation. The NCCM's testimony focused on highlighting (1) that evidence of ...

Quebec judge stays controversial face-cover law Bill 62

By Ingrid Peritz The Globe & Mail | December 1, 2017 A judge has suspended Quebec's requirement that people show their faces to obtain public services, dealing the province's controversial "religious neutrality" law its first legal setback. The Superior Court ruling on Friday means that, for now, people in Quebec who wear the Muslim niqab can continue accessing services such as taking the bus or borrowing a library book without showing their faces. Since the adoption of Bill 62 by the Quebec National Assembly in October, it has been illegal for anyone in the province to give or obtain public services without showing their face. The law ...

Quebec judge stays controversial face-cover law Bill 62

By Ingrid Peritz The Globe & Mail | December 1, 2017 A judge has suspended Quebec's requirement that people show their faces to obtain public services, dealing the province's controversial "religious neutrality" law its first legal setback. The Superior Court ruling on Friday means that, for now, people in Quebec who wear the Muslim niqab can continue accessing services such as taking the bus or borrowing a library book without showing their faces. Since the adoption of Bill 62 by the Quebec National Assembly in October, it has been illegal for anyone in the province to give or obtain public services without showing their face. The law ...

NCCM welcomes Statistics Canada’s early release of hate crime data

Expresses ongoing concern about rising level of hate crimes (Ottawa - November 28, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, welcomes Statistics Canada's earlier publication of key findings and overall trends from 2016 police-reported hate crimes. This represents a change from the normal two-year time lag between when data is collected and when it was traditionally released. "The NCCM has long called for the earlier compilation and public release of data on police-reported hate crimes. We are pleased to see today's 2016 information release from Statistics Canada," says NCCM ...

NCCM welcomes Statistics Canada’s early release of hate crime data

Expresses ongoing concern about rising level of hate crimes (Ottawa - November 28, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, welcomes Statistics Canada's earlier publication of key findings and overall trends from 2016 police-reported hate crimes. This represents a change from the normal two-year time lag between when data is collected and when it was traditionally released. "The NCCM has long called for the earlier compilation and public release of data on police-reported hate crimes. We are pleased to see today's 2016 information release from Statistics Canada," says NCCM ...

Uber Canada’s service animal policy criticized by some disability rights advocates

By Peter Goffin November 20, 2017 | The Canadian Press TORONTO - Uber Canada has launched a new policy on how its drivers deal with customers who have service animals, but some disability rights advocates say exemptions built into the rules could still lead to discrimination. The company's policy says drivers who refuse to give rides to customers with service animals will be dismissed. But drivers could get an exemption if they provide Uber with "written evidence, like a doctor's or cleric's letter ... confirming that they belong to a group protected by human rights legislation and how carrying the service animal is an undue hardship," the ...

Uber Canada’s service animal policy criticized by some disability rights advocates

By Peter Goffin November 20, 2017 | The Canadian Press TORONTO - Uber Canada has launched a new policy on how its drivers deal with customers who have service animals, but some disability rights advocates say exemptions built into the rules could still lead to discrimination. The company's policy says drivers who refuse to give rides to customers with service animals will be dismissed. But drivers could get an exemption if they provide Uber with "written evidence, like a doctor's or cleric's letter ... confirming that they belong to a group protected by human rights legislation and how carrying the service animal is an undue hardship," the ...

Bill 62 being challenged in court

CTV News | November 7, 2017 A legal challenge to Quebec's legislation banning face coverings has been filed. The National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association are challenging Bill 62 as a violation of the constitution. The Muslim woman challenging the lawsuit, Marie-Michelle Lacoste, argues that the law which is supposed to provide a level playing field for religious neutrality, actually creates a difficult burden for those who wish to abide by the tenets of their religion. Her lawyers are asking for the courts to block Section 10 of the law regarding religious neutrality, saying that the requirement to ...

Bill 62 being challenged in court

CTV News | November 7, 2017 A legal challenge to Quebec's legislation banning face coverings has been filed. The National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association are challenging Bill 62 as a violation of the constitution. The Muslim woman challenging the lawsuit, Marie-Michelle Lacoste, argues that the law which is supposed to provide a level playing field for religious neutrality, actually creates a difficult burden for those who wish to abide by the tenets of their religion. Her lawyers are asking for the courts to block Section 10 of the law regarding religious neutrality, saying that the requirement to ...