Quebec opposition parties against marking mosque shooting with day against Islamophobia

Nearly a year after six Muslimmen were gunned downin a Quebec City mosque, political leaders are still struggling to reach agreementon how to commemorate the attack.

Both the Parti Qubcois and Coalition AvenirQubec, the province's two main opposition parties,have come out against a proposal made last week by the National Council of Canadian Muslims, taking issue with the ideathat the day should be devoted to action against Islamophobia.

CAQspokesperson SamuelPoulinsaid that, instead, the anniversary should be "dedicated to commemorating the memory of the victims of this terrible tragedy."

"It is the intolerable act of one person and not that of an entire society. Quebecers are open and welcoming, they are not Islamophobic," he said in a statement.

SpokespersonBruno-PierreCyrsaidthe partydoes, however,supporta day of commemoration to mark the day of the attack, which he called a "despicable gesture."

Six Muslim men were shot and killed and 19 others were wounded in an attack on the mosque during prayers last Jan. 29.

AlexandreBissonnetteof Quebec City is to stand trial in March on six charges each of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Liberals open to idea, but non-committal

Quebec's Liberal government said it isopen to the council's proposal, but hasn't made any firm commitment.

In a year-end interview,Premier Philippe Couillard told CBC'sDebra Arbeche plans to table a motion to express solidarity with the Muslim community when the National Assembly resumes in February, after the anniversary has passed.

"I suspect it will be adopted unanimously," he said last month.

ThePQ is the largest opposition party in the Quebec legislature, holding 28 out of 125 total seats, while theCAQhas21 seats.Quebec is holding provincial elections thisOctober.

A smalleropposition party,QubecSolidaire, which holds three seatsin the National Assembly, hassaid itsupports the proposal.

The federal government said in a statement it has "received and noted" the proposal from the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

"We must condemn all forms of discrimination includingIslamophobia," the statement from office of the minister of Canadian Heritage said.

Designation meant to start a conversation

Razia Hamidi, the Montreal representative for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said Tuesday that criticism of the proposal is misguided.

Designating a day to counter Islamophobia isn't meant to suggest all Quebecersare Islamophobic, she told CBC Montreal'sDaybreak.

Instead, she said, it would "enable a broader conversation about how to address underlying issues" in society.

Like the national council, BoufeldjaBenabdallah, vice-presidentof the Quebec City mosque,wants the anniversary of the shooting to be more than just a commemoration.

He saidthe government shouldtake concrete steps to "encourage inclusion" andensure nothing like the attack ever happens again.