Second attempt to reverse keffiyeh ban at Ontario legislature fails

That this house acknowledged that the kafia is a culturally significant clothing item to many in Ontario’s Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities. A second attempt by the NDP to undo the ban on wearing Kaffirs inside the legislature building agreed. Heard some nose This time there were more of those no’s all from the government side. Not just Eglinton Lawrence MPP Robin Martin this time, but also Lisa McLeod who represents Nepean. She called out that it’s divisive, anti-Semitic and insulting at Passover. And there were other voices then. Between Palestine, a few protesters in the visitors gallery chanted and pulled out their scarves. This House stands in recess for 15 minutes. The protesters were removed and after question period resumed. The Government House leader attacked the NDP leader for bringing forward the motion because what she has chosen to do, Mr. Speaker, is to attempt to divide Ontarians. Mr. Speaker, I come from a caucus that is the most diverse caucus in the history of this province. Mr. Speaker, by that time, independent MPP Sarah JAMA had donned her kafia. It was a complaint against her wearing one in the past that sparked all this. In the end, she didn’t get kicked out, though she was expecting it. This is in solidarity with all the Palestinians who’ve been consistently been told or threatened to keep quiet about what’s going on back home. She says cultural clothing often has a political message. It’s completely ridiculous and theatrical that we’re not allowed to wear this cultural cloth in this place. The speaker sits on the other end of the chamber from JAMA. He says he couldn’t tell for sure what she was wearing. The third question period. I don’t do a scan of what everyone’s wearing as my first priority. But again, if it if it’s drawn to my attention by way of a point of order, but I’d obviously have to deal with it. The premier supports allowing the Kafia Queens Park like all the party leaders, but today didn’t whip the vote. This is very sensitive topic around the world and here and and I you know, they’re they’re passionate. But no, not on no, not on that. Now, if someone had major policy issues and they kept doing, that’s a whole different ball game. So what happens now? I don’t think the Kafir should be banned at Queen’s Park. So we will continue to look at other options. So this issue will likely come back yet again. And Sarah JAMA says she plans to keep wearing her kafia here at the legislature. Lorenda Braddock, CBC News, Toronto.