By Pepper Parr
April 27th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a very direct link between the matter of wearing a Palestinian kaffiyeh in the legislature and the by-election taking place in Milton May 2nd.
Premier Ford really wants to hold that seat and fears that if the Speaker of the Legislature insists on enforcing the rule that the black-and-white scarves flout long-standing rules against political symbols in the legislative chamber the Tory candidate could take a political hit.
Speaker Arnott speaking to Sarah Jama about removing the k she is wearing. because it is not permitted in the Legislature.
There are four candidate running for the seat: Galen Naidoo Harris and Progressive Conservative candidate Zee Hamid who served as a Town Councillor for 12 years.
Galen Naidoo Harris wearing the now fashionable Palestinian kaffiyeh
It is going to be a very tight race. The standing in a Liason poll taken April 23-25 was:
Milton Decided & Leaning:
41% – Galen Naidoo Harris (Ontario Liberal) (+2)
39% – Zee Hamid (PC) (no change)
9% – Katherine Cirlincione* (Ontario NDP) (-1)
5% – Kyle Hutton (Ontario Greens) (no change)
Naidoo Harris is a local resident who has been involved in local issues; his mother Indira Naidoo Harris was once a CBC broadcaster and served as the MPP for Milton and in a Liberal Cabinet.
– Zee Hamid, a former town Councillor for 12 years ran unsuccessfully for the Liberal nomination ahead of the 2015 federal election.
When Parm Gill, the sitting Progressive Conservative MPP for Milton, jumped to the federal Progressive Conservatives Hamid got back into politics hoping he could win a provincial seat.
Local politics is now reacting to the what is taking place in the provincial legislature.
Galen Naidoo Harris knew what to do – he is seen now wearing a kaffiyeh whenever he can.
The sentiment across the country has millions supporting the Muslin community that is being eviscerated by the Israeli Defence Forces who have occupied the enclave since October 7th when Hamas militants crossed the border into Israel, massacred 1200 people and took more than 100 hostages.
Milton has a large Muslim population.
Speaker Ted Arnott gave the order for Sarah Jama, the MPP for Hamilton Centre to leave during Thursday morning’s question period, after an earlier complaint and ruling that the black-and-white scarves flout long-standing rules against political symbols in the legislative chamber.
The sergeant-at-arms spoke to Jama in the legislature and asked her to remove the kaffiyeh, but she refused.
Jama argues that the “ban was arbitrarily put in place,” and that “every party leader has spoken up about how this ban shouldn’t exist.”
She said the kaffiyeh is cultural, but “my job is to be political, and so I will continue to wear this garment.”
later told reporters, adding “every party leader has spoken up about how this ban shouldn’t exist.”
She said the kaffiyeh is cultural, but “my job is to be political, and so I will continue to wear this garment.”
Arnott told reporters that while Jama would not be allowed back in the chamber or to participate in any committees, “there was no way for me to have her removed, short of physical force. I wasn’t prepared to do that.”
Jama uses a mobility scooter.
Jama has said she plans to continue wearing it, warning it would be an “undue escalation” if she were to be forced out.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles called Jama’s removal order “outrageous,” and then approached her in the legislature to offer support.
Stiles said “the government has upheld that ban and they need to do the right thing” and allow the kaffiyeh.
The northern part of Milton is within the Milton constituency boundary.
Thank you Stephen and Joe for setting the record straight. It is a breath of fresh air.
Fact: Sarah Jama has a history of making anti-Semitic comments, which was why she was booted from the provincial NDP caucus.
Fact: Hamilton Centre is one of the most economically depressed and disadvantaged constituencies in Ontario. It is awash in homeless people, crime, poverty, inadequate housing, lack of employment opportunities, etc.
Fact: The issue in Palestine is not one over which the Ontario legislature has any direct influence or control.
Fact: The electors in Hamilton Centre elected Ms. Jama to represent them at Queen’s Park on matters relating to provincial jurisdiction. They did not elect her to spent her time in inane and silly controversies relating to keffiyahs.
Fact: The Ontario legislature is not a fashion house. Besides being a political institution it is a workplace. Most workplaces have rules of conduct, including dress codes. People who work in these institutions are expected to abide by them. If someone wore a t-shirt that said “F__k Trudeau” that wouldn’t be permitted, and rightfully so.
Fact: For many the keffiyah is associated with Yassar Arafat, the former PLO leader, and the guy who invented airplane hijackings, kidnapping of innocent Israelis, car bombings, etc. He wasn’t exactly Nelson Mandela.
Assumption: The good people of Milton have enough grievances against the Ford government over everything from land use to intensification to the emasculation of local government, and enough good reasons to vote Liberal, NDP or Green.
Ms. Jama should spend more time focusing on representing her constituents, something which she certainly hasn’t done since being elected. Ms. Stiles should go back to providing an effective Opposition as she did prior to this controversy arising. And Doug Ford should do us all a favour after the May 2nd by-election and simply quit!
As I understand it, up to this point the person in question had never worn the Keffiyeh in the Ontario Legislative Chamber. I think it goes without saying that members and visitors alike should make every effort to support the conduct of business in our legislative chamber.
What to wear or what not to wear in this case fell upon Speaker Arnott. Visitors to the Ontario legislative should know, ” Hats and headwear are not allowed in the public galleries, unless religion for religious purposes or medical reasons” . As well the “Prohibited Items include, banners, placards, or any other item of demonstration”
I prefer this from France:
“The clothing adopted by Members in the Chamber must remain neutral and resemble business attire. It cannot be used as a pretext for expressing any opinion. In particular, the wearing of any conspicuous religious symbol, uniform, logos or commercial messages or slogans of a political nature is prohibited.”
Source: The Star Nov 24 2019 https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/female-politicians-struggling-to-crack-the-unwritten-dress-code/article_8c10e345-1fbf-5184-9d94-9931f1985a98.html