Ford government divided over Speaker’s ban on keffiyehs at Queen’s Park

It’s an article of clothing that’s now at the center of debate, division and dissent. The question at Queen’s Park Should the cafe, a cultural piece of clothing that some believe has political undertones, be allowed to be worn inside the legislature? The speaker of the legislature, Ted Arnett, decided to ban it from Queen’s Park, believing it to be political. The Kefir’s are a political statement, in my opinion. That decision caused backlash, and every provincial party called on the Speaker to reverse it. Found a uniting Ontarians and communities. We see the the division right now that’s going on. It’s it’s not healthy. And this would just divide the community even more. Back at Queens Park, the NDP tabled a motion asking the entire legislature to rescind the ban that this house acknowledged that the KAFIA is a culturally significant clothing item to many in Ontario’s Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities, but moments later agreed. I heard some nulls. The motion was defeated and the ban was upheld. The person who said no, a progressive conservative in open defiance of the premier. The decision was the correct decision in my view. We have to 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. The government has now fallen silent on the issue, but critics say it’s a sign of division in the premier’s ranks. I think it’s very significant that she’s defied. You know, the leader of her own party. As for the ban, it’s unclear when or if it’ll be reversed. At Queens Park Colin d’mello Global News.