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However, the core principle of our current existence is that we have kept race and religion out of politics, even as we face the onslaught of a religious war on our civilization by jihadi zealots of the Islamic State, Al-Qaida, Al-Shabab, the Taliban and also Turkey fuelling the fire to re-establish the Ottoman Caliphate.
But there is concern that Islam in Canada has tried to make its presence felt by elbowing into politics at all levels, including the municipal stage too where it seems its easiest to make their mark.
On May 6 this year, I wrote about how Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie rejected the advice of her administrators and in a drive-by vote managed to pass a unanimous resolution amending the city noise bylaw to legalize the blaring of “Allah O Akbar” on loudspeakers at all Mississauga mosques.
When Mississauga councillors Sue McFadden and Ron Star sought to overturn the first vote and have a discussion, they were somehow persuaded by the mayor into changing their mind. They did. The fact is that critics of mosque loudspeakers were labelled racist and Islamophobic, a charge that has silenced many and would scare the bravest amongst us.
The city’s decision triggered a citizen’s revolt led by one person, Ram Subramanian, who announced a plan to launch a constitutional challenge against the change of Mississauga’s noise laws. He has recruited over 10,000 people and aimed to raise $120,000 before he went to court.
