A second attempt by the New Democrats to pass a unanimous consent motion to overturn ban on keffiyehs in the Ontario legislature failed Tuesday after several government MPPs voted against it.
The motion, introduced by NDP Leader Marit Stiles, called for the house to recognize keffiyehs as culturally significant clothing items and allow for them to be worn at Queen’s Park.
There was a smattering of nos from the Progressive Conservative benches when the motion was read into the record.
Earlier Tuesday, PC MPP Robin Martin said she could not “in good conscience” vote in favour of the motion. Martin similarly voted against a unanimous consent motion on the issue brought forward by the NDP last week.
Meanwhile, PC MPP Lisa MacLeod, who was not in the legislature for last week’s vote but repeatedly signalled on her official social media channels that she supports the ban, was present for Tuesday’s vote.
Shortly after question period began, the legislature was adjourned due to protesters in the gallery yelling “free Palestine.” Several of them donned keffiyehs before they were escorted out by security.
The controversial prohibition on keffiyehs was instituted by House Speaker Ted Arnott earlier this month.
Keffiyehs are a commonly worn scarf among Arabs, but hold particular significance to Palestinian people. They have been a frequent sight among pro-Palestinian protesters calling for an end to the violence in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war continues.
Arnott says keffiyehs are being worn at Queen’s Park to make an overt political statement and that the ban conforms with longstanding conventions of decorum in the legislature.
Premier Doug Ford and all of the other opposition have called for the ban to be reversed. Ford said it “needlessly divides the people of our province” and publicly urged his caucus to support the previous NDP motion.
Ford was not present for Tuesday’s sitting, but government House Leader Paul Calandra indicated PC MPPs were given the freedom to vote however they saw fit on the reintroduced motion.
More to come.