Are Islamic mortgages compatible with Quebec-style secularism?

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon undoubtedly sinned by anachronism when he denounced “a concerted action to erase us.” On the other hand, we must recognize that the Trudeau government has a remarkable talent for provocation.

Following the pre-budget offensive in areas under provincial jurisdiction, the budget itself contained yet another discovery: the possibility of introducing “Islamic mortgages” into the Canadian banking system.

It wasn’t enough for Ottawa to prepare to support the challenge to the state secularism law at the Supreme Court; he also had to wave this red rag before the bull. If religion can have a place in public institutions, why not in banks, right?

Predictably, Legault’s government responded quickly. “We are clearly uncomfortable with this idea,” said the Minister responsible for Secularism, Jean-François Roberge. “Treating people differently, from a banking perspective, based on their religious beliefs, contradicts the choices Quebec has made. » Secularism is one of the rare issues on which the Coalition Avenir Québec can still hope to rally a majority of Quebecers.

Unsurprisingly, the Parti Québécois has also voiced its opposition, but the Liberal Party and Québec Solidaire (QS), both opposed to Bill 21, are clearly embarrassed. “We will take the time to study the issue before making a decision,” stated Liberal MP for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Frédéric Beauchemin, while QS prefers to wait to see if the Trudeau government will decide to move forward. during next autumn’s economic update. And pray he changes his mind.

*****

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet denounced what he said would be “a dangerous precedent” set for purely “clientelistic” reasons by a government that wants to “deprive the voice of Canada’s Muslim minority and Québecois ”.

Islamic or ‘halal’ mortgages, which replace the payment of interest with other forms of fees, are not unanimously accepted, even within the Muslim community, which has been debating them for years. In 2009, the Saudi group AlBassam House asked the Harper government for permission to open a first bank offering this service in Canada, which is not allowed by law.

After extensively investigating the issue, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) ruled out this possibility, which is not yet of interest to any of the major banks. Those who want to take out a halal-style mortgage that complies with Sharia law can contact Muslim cooperatives.

One of the fiercest opponents on this issue, whom the Bloc Québécois has called as a witness, is Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Congress of Canada, not to be confused with the National Council of Canadian Muslims, which strongly opposes Bill 21.

This journalist of Pakistani origin, who has had a rather eventful career, campaigned mainly for the New Democratic Party, whose door he slammed because he found it too hospitable to Islamists.

Fifteen years ago he was delighted about the rejection of Islamic mortgages by the CMHC. “It targets vulnerable and marginalized Muslims, who are told that if they interact with non-Muslims they will go to hell. It’s like the Catholic Church of the 13th^e century,” he said.

*****

Moreover, the ban on interest, as in the case of wearing the veil, would arise from a questionable interpretation of the Quran by the Islamist movement. Rather, it is “usury” that the holy book would forbid, that is, excessive interest.

Not everyone has the same concerns. The magazine responded to Mr Fatah’s criticism Maclean’s had opposed that of a University of Toronto professor, Walid Hejazi, who argued that Canada had a vested interest in opening itself up to “Islamic financing.”

Demand will increase and Canada risks being excluded from a global market that will reach hundreds of billions, he argued. According to him, the Islamic mortgage is a financial product like any other, which both Muslims and non-Muslims can use.

In addition to the economic aspect, allowing people to have access to financing compatible with their religious beliefs would be “consistent with Canada’s fundamental values ​​and our proud history,” Mr. Hejazi added. The question is whether this is consistent with Quebec’s.

The possibility of introducing religious considerations into the financial system was not discussed during the debate on secularism, but would likely have caused much outrage. Justin Trudeau is undoubtedly not deliberately trying to provoke Quebec. It’s simply that the latter is not part of his vision for Canada. Yet he is playing with fire.

To watch on video