Ontario Legislature keffiyeh ban remains in place
Premier Doug Ford says he doesn't support move that 'needlessly divides' people
Keffiyehsremain bannedin the Ontario Legislatureafter a unanimous consent motion that would have allowed the scarfto be worn failed to pass at Queen's ParkThursday.
That vote, brought forth by NDP Leader Marit Stiles, failed despite Premier Doug Ford and the leaders of the province's opposition parties all stating they want to see the ban overturned. Complete agreement from all MPPs is required for a motion like this to pass, and there were a smattering of "nos" after it was read into the record.
In an email on Wednesday, Speaker Ted Arnott said the legislature has previouslyrestrictedthe wearing of clothing that is intended to make an "overt political statement" because it upholds a "standard practice of decorum."
"The Speaker cannot be aware of the meaning of every symbol or pattern but when items are drawn to my attention, there is a responsibility to respond. After extensive research, I concluded that the wearing of keffiyehs at the present time in our Assembly is intended to be a political statement. So, as Speaker, I cannot authorize the wearing of keffiyehs based on our longstanding conventions," Arnott said in an email.
Speaking at Queen's Park Thursday,Arnott said he would reconsider the ban with unanimous consent from MPPs.
"If the house believes that the wearing of the keffiyeh in this house, at the present time, is not a political statement, I would certainly and unequivocally accept the express will of the house with no ifs, ands or buts," he said.
Keffiyehs are a commonly worn scarf among Arabs, but hold special significanceto Palestinian people. They have been a frequent sight amongpro-Palestinian protesterscalling for an end to the violence in Gaza asthe Israel-Hamaswar continues.
Premier calls for reversal
Ford said Thursday he's hopeful Arnott will reverse the ban, but he didn't say if he would instruct his caucus to support the NDP's motion.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Ford saidthe decision was made by the speaker and nobody else.
"I do not support his decision as it needlessly divides the people of our province. I call on the speaker to reverse his decision immediately," Ford said.
PC Party MPPRobin Martin, who representsEglintonLawrence, voted against the unanimous consent motion Thursdayand told reporters she believes the speaker's initial ruling was the correct one.
"We have to follow the rules of the legislature, otherwise we politicize the entire debate inside the legislature, and that's not what it's about. What it's about is we come there and use our words to persuade, not items of clothing."
When asked if she had defied a directive from the premier, Martin said,"It has nothing to do with the premier, it's a decision of the speaker of the legislative assembly."
Stilestold reportersThursday she's happy Fordis on her side on thisissue, but added she is disappointed the motion didn't pass.
"The premier needs to talk to his people and make sure they do the right thing," she said.
Stiles first urged Arnottto reconsider the banin an April 12letter. Shesaidconcerns over the directivefirst surfaced after being flagged by members of her staff, however they have gained prominence afterSarah Jama, Independent MPP for Hamilton Centre, posted about the issue on X, formerly Twitter.
Jama was removed from the NDP caucus for her social media comments on the Israel-Hamas war shortly after Oct. 7.
Jama has said she believes she was kicked out of the party because she called for a ceasefire in Gaza "too early" and because she called Israel an "apartheid state."
Arnotttold reporters Thursday that he began examining a ban on theKeffiyehafter one MPP made a complaint about another MPP, who he believes was Jama, who was wearing one.
Liberals also call for reversal
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie also called for a reversal of the ban on Wednesdaynight.
"Here in Ontario, we are home to a diverse group of people from so many backgrounds. This is a time when leaders should be looking for ways to bring people together, not to further divide us. I urge Speaker Arnott to immediately reconsider this move to ban the keffiyeh," Crombie said.
Stiles said MPPs have worn kilts, kirpans, vyshyvankas and chubas in the legislature, saying suchitems of clothing not only have national and cultural associations, but have also been considered at times as "political symbols in need of suppression."
She said Indigenous and non-Indigenous members have also dressed in traditional regalia and these items cannot be separated from their historical and political significance.
"The wearing of these important cultural and national clothing items in our Assembly is something we should be proud of. It is part of the story of who we are as a province," she said.
"Palestinians are part of that story, and the keffiyeh is a traditional clothing item that is significant not only to them but to many members of Arab and Muslim communities. That includes members of my staff who have been asked to remove their keffiyehs in order to come to work. This is unacceptable."
Stiles added that House of Commons and other provincial legislatures allowthe wearing of keffiyehs in their chambers and the ban makes Ontario an "outlier."
Suppression of cultural symbols part of genocide:MPP
Jamasaid on X thatthe ban is "unsurprising" but "nonetheless concerning" in a country that hasa legacy of colonialism. "Part of committing genocide is the forceful suppression of cultural identity and cultural symbols," she said in part.
"Seeing those in power in this country at all levels of government, from federal all the way down to school boards, aid Israel's colonial regime with these tactics in the oppression of Palestinian people proves that reconciliation is nothing but a word when spoken by state powers," she said.
Amira Elghawaby,Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, said on X that it is "deeply ironic" on that keffiyehswerebanned in the Ontario legislatureon the 42nd anniversary of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"This is wrong and dangerous as we have already seen violence and exclusion impact Canadians, including Muslims of Palestinian descent, who choose to wear this traditional Palestinian clothing,"Elghawaby said.
Arnott said the keffiyeh was not considered a "form of protest" in the legislature prior to statements and debates that happened in the House last fall.
"These items are not absolutes and are not judged in a vacuum," he said.
With files from Adam Carter, Lorenda Reddekopp, Clara Pasieka and John Rieti
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