The Complacency of the Canadian Muslim Body Politic

Over the course of the last 10 years, the number of Muslims in Canada has risen to dramatic numbers. Muslims now constitute the largest religious minority in Canada. According to the Statistics Canada website, the number of Muslims in Ontario alone has doubled to 352 500 from a decade earlier. In total, the number of Muslims in Canada is estimated to be over 500 000. And yet, representation in the House of Commons is disproportionate to these numbers. Surely, this under-representation of Muslims in Canada has been detrimental to the population as a whole.

It is important to realize the benefits of political representation, especially at the federal level. Issues that matter most to Canadians are heard and addressed appropriately through committee hearings, debates and legislation. Interests of specific groups of Canadians, ethnic and otherwise, are also addressed. The more representation a specific group has, the better chance they have of furthering their needs. In the context of minority groups, representation at the federal level helps to enlarge the ever growing Diaspora of the Canadian fabric of

Essentially, there are two forms of political participation: non-electoral participation and electoral participation. Non-electoral participation implies participating politically by doing simple things like writing articles and letters to the editor in newspapers, participating in protest rallies, and communicating with a trustee (one’ s municipal, provincial or federal representative), or any other political figure for that matter. Non-political representation also includes involvement in community organizations, petitioning, interest groups and strikes. Electoral participation involves activities that are done in the realm of elections. This includes voting, participation in a political party and running for office.

Muslims in Canada are very active in aspects of non-electoral participation. There are a number of Muslims that regularly keep in contact with MPs, and exercise their right to assembly by participating in protests for various causes. They also regularly write letters to the editors of their local and national newspapers. Some are even regular contributors to those papers. It is in the realm of electoral participation that the Muslims in Canada have fallen behind, particularly at the federal level.

For example, in 2000, only a mere 42 percent of eligible Muslim Canadians bothered to cast a ballot in the federal election. And out of that 42 percent, only 39 percent of those were women. This is in stark contrast to other ethnic groups in Canada. Sikhs constitute roughly 1 percent of Canada’s population but during the 2000 election, 86 percent of that population came out to vote. Additionally, 91 percent of Hindus and 100 percent of Jews also participated in that election.

Currently, there are 580 000 Muslims in Canada which represents about 2 percent of the total population. But, there are only 4 MPs in the House of Commons that identify themselves as Muslim. Prior to the last federal election, there was only one MP that represented all Muslims. By contrast, Sikhs that constitute 1 percent of the total population (280 000) currently have six MPs. Clearly, there seems to be an uneven distribution of representation federally with respect to the Muslim Canadian body politic.

It has been said that a democracy is only as good as the amount of people that participate in it. In the case of Muslim Canadians, it seems as though electoral participation is hardly on the list of things to do. Electoral participation is vitally important, especially in a democracy for many reasons. In the context of Muslims, electoral participation would help to solidify their place in the Canadian multicultural mosaic of society. It also shows that Muslims are willing participants not only in the greater society of Canada, but specifically the governing and dayto-day workings of the country. Muslims, through various political channels, would be able to add their input into domestic and foreign policy and voice concerns where appropriate. Also, electoral participation invites Muslims to participate in the free market of ideas, a place where the Muslim voice is essential. Lastly, electoral participation allows for specific interests and concerns that Muslims have, to be addressed through proper channels.

Up until recently, the distribution of Muslim MPs was concentrated to mainly one party, the Liberals. This changed when MP Wajid Khan crossed the House floor to sit amongst the ranks of the Conservative Party. As it currently stands now, there are two Muslim MPs in the Conservative Party of Canada and two in the Liberal Party of Canada. When they heard the news that Khan crossed the floor to join Stephen Harper’s party, most Muslims disapproved. In the greater scheme of things, this is not necessarily a bad thing.

Historically speaking, Muslims in this country have had a special relationship with the Liberal Party. After all, it was the Liberals that seemed to represent best the interests of all minorities, especially in the realms of immigration and multiculturalism. This was solidified in the Constitution Act of 1982 where Pierre Elliot Trudeau enshrined the Charter of Rights and Freedoms into the county’s constitution. And more recently, it was former Prime Minister Chretien of the Liberal Party that decided to not to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom, an act that most Muslims around Canada approved of. It seemed for a while that the Liberals were the natural party to govern Canada. This changed when Stephen Harper came into power with a minority government. Even though there are two Muslim MPs in the government, it seems that the concerns and interests of the community are not being adequately addressed. This suggests that more Muslims are needed in not only in the Conservative Party, but indeed in the Liberals and NDP as well.

Having a sufficient amount of MPs elected in all parties will serve to represent the vast diversity of Muslims that inhabit this country. The Canadian media often portrays

Muslims as a homogeneous population, and this tends to be reflected in the discourses of Canadian society. This is hardly the case. Muslims in Canada fall into a number of racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic and class structures. Muslims are as ideologically diverse as they are culturally or linguistically. There are some that are socially conservative, and others that are socially progressive. Some Muslim Canadians are in favour of a more stringent foreign policy while others believe in the traditional role of diplomacy and peace keeping. At the current point in time, ideological diversity among Muslims is not reflected in this country. More Muslim participation is needed in all the political parties in Canada so that the true diversity of the Muslim population can be reflected.

Muslim Electoral participation in Canada is needed now more than ever. The events of Sept. 11, 2001 have demonstrated that Islam is quickly becoming a large actor in the political theater. As Muslims, it is our responsibility to engage in political discourse and have our voice heard in the formulation and scrutiny of both domestic and foreign policy. This is one of the best channels that we can use to prove that Islam can be in sync with democracy. Times are as such that the Muslim community can no longer afford to sit back and watch the show. We must be willing and active participants in the political realm to solidify a legitimate niche in the Canadian body Politic.

Email • Print • Share on Facebook • Add to del.icio.us • Stumble It!