PM says Ottawa must work harder to fight racism

Trudeau calls out federal security and tax agencies over Islamophobia

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called out federal security and tax agencies during a national summit on Islamophobia, saying they must do more to put an end to antimuslim sentiments in Canada.

Speaking to the meeting organized by the government, Trudeau said the public service needed to put those Muslims who have experienced hate at the centre of federal efforts to address the issue.

“From the (Canada Revenue Agency) to security agencies, institutions should support people, not target them,” he said.

He also called on other levels of governments, businesses and individual Canadians to root out Islamophobia and all types of hate and discrimination in society.

But Trudeau had little to say in response to a call from almost 100 Muslim organizations and civil society groups for the Liberals to reform the Canada Revenue Agency’s practices for auditing that they argue unfairly targets Muslim charities.

The groups also asked the government to overturn a recent CRA decision to suspend the ability of Ottawa-based Human Concern International, a longestablished Muslim charity, to issue tax receipts.

National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier is attending the summit. Trudeau said she would have more to say on the issue.

Later Thursday, Jeremy Bellefeuille, a spokesperson for Lebouthillier, said she committed during the summit to ask the taxpayers’ ombudsman for a systemic review to address the concerns of the Muslim community regarding targeting Muslim-led charities.

He said Lebouthillier also committed to appointing a member of the Muslim community to the advisory committee on the charitable sector.

Members of Parliament unanimously adopted a motion calling on the government to convene an emergency summit on Islamophobia on June 11, a few days after a vehicle attack against a Muslim family in London, Ont., left four dead and a nine-year-old boy injured.

In recent months, a spate of hate-motivated attacks have targeted hijab-wearing Muslim women in Alberta, and last September, a Muslim man was stabbed to death while volunteering in a Toronto mosque.