Tory MPP Rob Milligan said Wednesday that the East End Madrassah (EEM) should lose its permit to rent from the Toronto District School Board until a York Regional police investigation into a lesson allegedly containing hate language is wrapped up.

Yank Islamic school’s permit: Tory MPP
By Terry Davidson, QMI Agency

Tory MPP Rob Milligan

Jewish group says Islamic school needs to do more
Islamic school probed for teachings about Jews

TORONTO – An Islamic school that has been renting space at a Toronto public school to allegedly teach its students to hate Jews should have its permit revoked until a police investigation is finished, says Ontario’s PC education critic.

Tory MPP Rob Milligan said Wednesday that the East End Madrassah (EEM) should lose its permit to rent from the Toronto District School Board until a York Regional police investigation into a lesson allegedly containing hate language is wrapped up.

The Islamic school rents teaching space on Sundays at David and Mary Thompson collegiate in the city’s east end.

“This is not a Christian country or a Christian city. It is a secular multicultural country and secular multicultural city with people from numerous religions as well as spiritual people, agnostics and atheists,” Solo said.

Atheist Ashu Solo threatens human rights complaint after Saskatoon councillor’s dinner blessing

Betty Ann Adam, Postmedia NewsApr 21, 2012 – 5:02 PM ET | Last Updated: Apr 23, 2012 10:06 AM ET

Richard Marjan/Postmedia News

“It made me feel like a second-class citizen. It makes you feel excluded,” atheist Ashu Solo complained after a Saskatoon city councillor said grace at a volunteer appreciation dinner.

SASKATOON — A Christian prayer by a city councillor at a City of Saskatoon volunteer appreciation dinner discriminated against non-Christians, says a volunteer who intends to complain to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.

Ashu Solo, a member of the city’s cultural diversity and race relations committee, was among the guests at the dinner Wednesday, where Coun. Randy Donauer said a blessing over the food in which he mentioned Jesus and ended with “amen.”

“It made me feel like a second-class citizen. It makes you feel excluded,” said Solo, who is an atheist.

“It’s ironic that I’ve now become a victim of religious bigotry and discrimination at this banquet that was supposed to be an appreciation banquet for the service of volunteers like me.”

BANNING HIP HOP AND RAP IN LIQUOR LICENSING: A SWEEPING ATTACK ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BLACK CULTURE

Montreal, April 3, 2012 — By requiring Montreal bars and clubs to stop playing hip hop and rap music, the Quebec liquor licensing board has achieved something which many authorities in the United States have tried but failed : ban a musical style closely associated with the Black community, institutionalize racial profiling and curtail freedom of expression.

This is CRARR’s position in support of a group of hip hop artists protesting today in front of the Montreal Courthouse.

Last month, the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ, Quebec’s liquor and gaming regulatory authority) granted a license to a Montreal bar under the condition that it not hold live hip hop and rap performances. This was not the first time that the board has directly or indirectly banned hip hop and rap music in bars and clubs, often in response to the recommendation or requirement of the Montreal Police Service (MPS), as it has done so in :

• A February 2012 decision to suspend the permit of Club 1234, a downtown club;
• A September 2011 decision to grant a permit to the Parking Club in the Gay Village;
• A September 2010 decision to suspend the permit of a downtown bar, Q-Zone; and
• A May 2008 decision to suspend the permit of Vision Bar Café Lounge, in Lasalle,

Restrictions and prohibitions of hip hop and rap are often imposed in response to risk assessment and public security breaches. Evidence was submitted at regulatory hearings to the effect that disorder, violence and the presence of gang members were often linked to hip hop music and events.

MORE BLACK PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDERS DENOUNCE RACIAL PROFILING AND EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE

Montreal, March 29, 2012 — There should be an inquiry into patterns of public transit racism by Montreal Transit Authority (MTA or STM) inspectors, said several Black Montrealers who have been the target of these practices.

At a news conference held today in Côte Des Neiges, one of the Montreal’s most multiracial districts, some Black public transit riders denounced the MTA for resorting to a pattern of selective interception, excessive use of force, violent detention and arrest, and abuse of authority that point to systematic racial profiling.

Disturbing practices include the aggressive interceptions and the rapid excessive use of physical force by MTA inspectors, that result in serious injuries and penalties for Black riders. These practices have been frequently reported since the coming into force in 2009 of the MTA’s policy on proof of payment (POP) checks, which empowers inspectors to stop riders and which can lead to fines of $124 for failure to show POP and $324 for obstruction of inspectors’ work.

Immigrants prioritized over ‘white’ Canadians for public housing, human-rights complaint says

Gary Dimmock, Postmedia News

OTTAWA — An Ottawa man who was living in a shelter with his wife and two children took the City of Ottawa to a human-rights tribunal last month, alleging that immigrants are given priority over “white Canadians” for public housing.

Kirk Munroe and his family lived at the Carling Family Shelter for months last year while waiting for a public housing unit to call their own. Munroe grew frustrated with the wait after immigrant families at the shelter were offered public housing in only a “matter of weeks.”

In his application to Ontario’s human-rights tribunal, Munroe quoted an Ottawa public housing manager as saying “whites have less chance of getting a home and they have to stay in shelters longer than immigrants new to Canada.”

The tribunal heard that the quick turnaround time for immigrants was in “distinct contrast to the experience of white Canadian families” at the shelter, including his own, who had to wait months for housing.

A lawyer for the public housing agency denied it gives priority to immigrants, and a lawyer for the City of Ottawa told the hearing that the immigrants in question may have been victims of domestic violence, which, he said, would account for why they were offered social housing so quickly. The tribunal also heard that the public housing manager denied saying that immigrants have a better shot at getting public housing.

Dr. Nelson Ubani

Montreal MD questions suspension
CBC News Posted: Apr 12, 2012 9:51 PM ET Last Updated: Apr 12, 2012 9:50 PM ET

Montreal doctor suspended

A doctor who has served Montreal’s black community for decades is being told he can no longer practice.

The Quebec College of Physicians has suspended Dr. Nelson Ubani on claims he isn’t properly trained.

Ubani – who graduated from McGill University’s medical school – says it’s not that simple, and believes he is a victim of discrimination.