Bickering over immigrants harmful, commission told

Squabbling between Quebec's religious groups is hurting the province's reputation, a Protestant group has told a commission on immigrant integration.

The Protestant Partnership on Education presented its thoughts on immigrant assimilation at the Bouchard-Taylor Commission hearings in Laval on Wednesday morning.

'How am I gonna bring up my kids, and tell them that you're always gonna be non-welcome here in Canada, because your name is not Jean-Paul, your name is Shireen, or your name is Rami?' —Nahdi Zahabi, Laval resident

The group said public bickering at the hearings between different religious groups is dividing Quebecers and hurting the province's reputation.

"I have done interviews right across this country. This has hurt us deeply," said group member Glenn Smith. "This has not been a pleasant experience."

Smith said that while he agrees with the premise for the hearings, he has problems with the format.

Most issues pertaining to the so-called "reasonable accommodation" of immigrants are centred in the multi-ethnic Montreal region.

But the commission has spent most of its time, so far, in more homogeneous, predominantly white, Catholic and francophonerural areas, Smith pointed out.

That's led to a one-sided view of Quebecers' thoughts on immigrants, he said.

Diversity is cause for celebration, commission told

His group promotes the celebration of difference, rather than imposing a strict secular state, he explained.

For example, banning religious symbols in public institutions, a suggestion that has come up repeatedly throughout the fall hearings, is impractical, Smith said.

"Everybody's got a world view, so therefore, in public spaces, if a guy wears a Montreal Canadiens hockey cap, that's a world-view symbol— just like a burqa, just like a hijab."

Immigrants need lay of the land before choosing Quebec, group says

Another group of Laval residents told the commission it was essential to improve immigrants' access to the public service sector, provincial professional orders and unions.

The group proposed amending Quebec's laws on equal employment access in the public sector. It also suggested professional orders show more flexibility on admission criteria and internships.

Immigrants need to be told about the province's unemployment rate for newcomers — which is two to three times higher than the norm — before they come to Quebec, the group said.

Laval Muslims object tocommentary on Islam

The Laval hearings were more tense Tuesday night as a predominantly Muslim crowd airedits frustrationwith the kind of commentary that has been presented in front of the commission so far.

Islam is being demonized every night, and it's tiresome, said Nahdi Zahabi, a Muslim originally from Lebanon who settled in Quebec 28 years ago.

"How am I gonna bring up my kids, and tell them that you're always gonna be non-welcome here in Canada, because your name is not Jean-Paul, your name is Shireen, or your name is Rami, or your name is Nahdi, and people do not accept you, because you are different?" he told CBC News.

Zahabi said he's grown weary of peoples' interpretation of Islam traditions such as covering the head.

Islam is a peaceful faith that treats women equally, and banning Muslim head scarves is equivalent to forcing nuns or priests to dress in street clothes,Zahabi said during his presentation to the commission Tuesday night.

His suggestion drew jeers from the crowd, including from one woman who repeatedly shouted at Zahabi throughout his presentation.

Other presenters suggested Muslims are benefiting from too many accommodations.

The Bouchard-Taylor Commission hearings continue in Laval this week, before travelling to Montreal next week.

The commission was created by premier Jean Charest last winter to quell a bitter public debate about immigrants in Quebec.

The commission is headed by sociologist Gérard Bouchard and philosopher Charles Taylor.