Defying Premier Doug Ford, at least six Progressive Conservative MPPs voted to oppose the lifting of Speaker Ted Arnott’s ban on Palestinian kaffiyehs in the Ontario legislature.
Arnott has prohibited the black-and-white scarves, which he contended flout the rules against any clothing that makes “an overt political statement,” despite all four party leaders urging them to be permitted.
But for the second time in less than a week, NDP Leader Marit Stiles on Tuesday failed to get unanimous consent to allow kaffiyehs.
Veteran Tory MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean) said she opposed Stiles’ motion because “it’s divisive, it’s antisemitic, it’s insulting at Passover.”
Because it was a voice vote, an exact tally of dissenters is difficult to determine, but six backbench Tories — five women and one man — on both sides of the chamber could be heard saying “No.”
Kaffiyehs, which have a history dating back thousands of years, have become a common sight at pro-Palestinian rallies in Toronto and around the world since the Oct. 7 attack against Israel by Hamas and the subsequent retaliation in Gaza by the Israeli military.
Arnott, who oversees the legislature, had told MPPs last Thursday “if the house believes that wearing the kaffiyeh in the house at the present time is not a political statement, I would certainly and unequivocally accept the express will of the house.”
After Tuesday’s motion failed, several protesters brandishing the scarves and shouting “Free Palestine” and “you can’t cancel us” were removed from the public galleries by legislative security.
At the same time, Independent MPP Sarah Jama (Hamilton Centre) put on a kaffiyeh as she sat in her front-row seat in the chamber, but she was not sanctioned by the Speaker, who ordered a 15-minute recess for things to calm down.
Arnott said later he didn’t notice her move.
Jama, who was ejected from the New Democratic caucus last fall for insubordination, acknowledged “this piece of clothing has been made political.”
She vowed to continue to wear the kaffiyeh because “it’s very important to stand in solidarity with ... all the Palestinians who have consistently been told or threatened to keep quiet about what’s going on back home.”
The first-term MPP called it “completely ridiculous and theatrical that we’re not allowed to wear this cultural cloth in this place, and so I’m standing up for a lot of the people who feel like they can’t say anything right now.”
Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, Ford, who was not in the chamber for the vote, defended his decision not to whip the vote.
“This is very sensitive topic around the world. It’s a very sensitive topic for certain people. We’re united as a team, no matter if we agree or disagree on certain items,” he said.
“Maybe I’m a little different than other premiers. I let people speak freely and I don’t punish them for speaking freely.”
Tory MPP Robin Martin (Eglinton-Lawrence), who led the opposition to Stiles’ original motion last Thursday, noted “the rules of the legislature are clear that props and clothing that makes a political statement cannot be worn in the chamber.”
“To agree to a motion similar to the one put forward Thursday by MPP Stiles, which declares the kaffiyeh to be a cultural symbol and not a political one, would be to deny the fact and reality that it has taken on an inherent political meaning, particularly at this time. I cannot, in good conscience, agree to a statement that I know is objectively false,” she said.
Martin said she was heartened more of her caucus colleagues are now backing her and that Ford didn’t whip the vote.
Dania Majid, president of the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, who was denied entry to Queen’s Park by security on Tuesday morning because she was wearing a kaffiyeh, said “anti-Palestinian racism” is at play.
“It is a cultural symbol. It is something that Arabs and Palestinians have been wearing for generations and it is something that I wear on multiple occasions as a representation of my identity and culture,” she said.
Majid insisted the meaning of the kaffiyeh “hasn’t changed” since the events of Oct. 7.
Christopher Zabaneh, a board member with Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, who was also prevented from coming into the legislative precinct because of his kaffiyeh, said the scarves are “a cultural item.”
Both Majid and Zabaneh, who met with Stiles on a park bench outside the legislature prior to the motion, said they urged the NDP chief to readmit the defenestrated Jama to the New Democratic caucus.
“We thought her statements were fair in light of what was happening in October,” said Majid.
But Stiles said there are no plans to allow Jama, who was twice forced to apologize to the Jewish community for comments she has made about Israel, back into the fold.
“The issue with Ms. Jama was about other things and in terms of our caucus unity and it doesn’t have to do with her wearing a kaffiyeh — it never has,” she said.
Jama, for her part, told reporters she would like to rejoin the NDP.
Outside the legislature, about a dozen people were on hand offering kaffiyehs to those coming into the building.
The Speaker stressed that MPPs are welcome to bring forward another motion.
Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie and Green Leader Mike Schreiner also oppose Arnott’s edict.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation