Background
Discover how the Government of Canada stands with and supports Muslim communities across Canada and reaffirms its commitment to take action to denounce and tackle Islamophobia.
The deadly hate-motivated attack in a mosque in Québec City on January 29, 2017, followed by the June 6, 2021, killing of a Muslim family in London, Ontario, demonstrated the need for urgent action to combat Islamophobia.
According to the 2021 Census, after Christianity, Islam was the second-most reported religion in Canada, with nearly 1.8 million, or 1 in 20, people. Between 2001 and 2021, the number of those who reported being Muslim rose from 2.0% to 4.9% of Canada's population.
Recent years have seen a marked rise in anti-Muslim sentiment, hate crimes against Muslims and Islamophobia in Canada including attacks on mosques, overt discrimination against people wearing Islamic symbols and dress. Muslims continue to be among the most frequent targets of hate crimes against a religion, continuing trends from previous years.
of Muslims surveyed in Canada have reported experiencing discrimination or unfair treatment in the past five years
police-reported hate crimes in 2023, a 32% increase from 2022
of religion-motivated hate crimes reported from 2018-2022 targeted Muslims
A deadly hate-motivated attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Québec City took the lives of six worshippers and injured many others.
Building a Foundation for Change: Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy was unveiled after extensive cross-country consultations, a $45-million investment to build long-term changes.
The Government of Canada declared January 29 the National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.
A hate-motivated terrorist attack killed four members of a Muslim family — the Afzaal family — in London, Ontario, underscoring the urgent need for further action.
The Government of Canada hosted a virtual National Summit on Islamophobia, which identified ways to work with Muslim communities to implement anti-racism initiatives addressing Islamophobia and hate-fuelled violence.
The Government of Canada announced its intention to appoint a Special Representative on combatting Islamophobia.
Amira Elghawaby was appointed as Canada's first ever Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, following an open, transparent, and merit-based selection process.
Between 2020–2024, $4.7M in program funding was dispersed to various community groups across Canada supporting 47 unique projects designed to counter Islamophobia.
The Government of Canada announced the creation of a new Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, evolving the work of the Special Representative's office.
The Government of Canada has made significant investments to combat Islamophobia and support Muslim communities:
over five years to support the work of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia (Budget 2022)
over five years to enhance and expand the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (Budget 2023)
over six years, with $1.1M ongoing, to support the Special Representative (Budget 2024–25)
in program funding dispersed to community groups supporting 47 projects to counter Islamophobia (2020–2024)