Committee Blocks Motion to Study Attacks on Houses of Worship
The motion called for a study on arsons, shootings, and other attacks against churches, synagogues, and other places of worship nationwide since 2021.
TL;DR
- A House of Commons committee voted 7-4 against studying vandalism, arson, and other criminal attacks on places of worship.
- The committee chair, Lisa Hepfner, ruled the proposed study fell outside the committee's mandate, stating it dealt with the Criminal Code rather than heritage or identity.
- Conservative MP Andrew Lawton's motion, introduced on Oct. 29, called for an examination of attacks against churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship across Canada.
- Lawton challenged the ruling, but the committee upheld the chair's decision.
- The chair suggested the matter be brought to the justice or public safety committees instead.