Since the announcement by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Mr. Jason Kenny`s December 12, 2011 about banning the Niqab during the citizenship oath ceremony, Many forums and seminars have been organized about the issue. On January 14, Mufti Aasim Rashid, on behalf of the BCMA Department of Religion and Islamic Education presented a well researched and informative seminar on Hijab, Niqab, and Pardah, and its significant importance in Islam, at Surrey Jameah Masjid.              
The 3 hour seminar titled ‘Demystifying the Hijab’ was presented by Mufti Asim in two phases.
 In both sessions, in front of number of community members of different origins, he addressed the reality, history, significance and guidelines of Hijab in Islam.                                                                     

 In the first session’s presentation on “Why”, Mufti Asim highlighted a detailed history, and perceptions of women throughout history and civilization. The first session was attended by M.P. Jinny Sims, M.L.A Bruce Ralston Maulana A.L Naumani and NDP Candidate, Mr. Raj Hundal. Mufti Aasim also took questions from the audience. M.P. Jinny Sims, met with the women in gallery of the Surrey Masjid which was packed with them.
The second session was on “How”, detailing  difference between covering ‘Awarah and Hijab’. He said the ‘awrah’ of a woman is her entire body, except for hands and face. These parts should be covered at all times, just like a man’s body from his navel to his knees must be covered.
He discussed ‘exception to hijab’ from the Islamic perspective in detail, as well as from various religious perspectives, based on past and even current practices.                                                           

He stressed to those in attendance, Muslims and Non-Muslims, that media is certainly not the reliable source. He equally stressed the point to Muslims that we need to start speaking about Islam, and unless we are willing to take this task, others will continue to speak as how they perceive it. In this session,  Mufti Asim also answered the questions posed by women in writing 2 weeks ago during the visit of Junaid Jamshed.                                                        

Overall, it was an excellent presentation which engaged more people of the community in this matter. If you missed this forum, you can download the notes, and view the presentation online at http://ihsan.ca/index.php

On January 15, a monthly Daras e Quran was held in Pakistan house Surrey. Prof. Badiud Deen Soharwardy, President of Islamic Supreme council of Canada, visits British Columbia monthly. This program is arranged by ISCC BC chapter. In this January Dars e Quran Mr. Soharwardy stated the last two Rukoo of Surah Younus and completed it. He explained this Surah’s verses in details with the references with Sunnah and Tafaseer. He explained each verse in the context of environment at that time, but also related them with current disasters in different countries.Some of the verses he explained were:
98. Then why has there not been any town, except (the town of) the people of Yunus (Jonah), that believed and its belief brought it profit? When (the people of Yunus [Jonah]) believed (just seeing the sign of torment before it was sent down), We removed from them the punishment of humiliation (even) in the life of the world and We let them avail the profit for a time.
102. Are they waiting for (the bad days) similar to those of the people who have passed away before them? Say: ‘Wait (then); I am (also) with you among those who wait.’
106. (This Command is being communicated to Umma [Community] through the Messenger:) ‘Nor worship those (idols) besides Allah which can neither profit nor harm you. Then if you do it, you will surely be among the wrongdoers the same moment.’
108. Say: ‘O people, surely the Truth has come to you from your Lord. So whoever adopts the path of guidance, adopts it for his own good, and he who is misguided, goes astray for his own destruction. And I am not a custodian over you (that I should bring you to the path of guidance coercively).’

Prof. Soharwardy mentioned that the ext topic will be Beloved prophet Mohammad (saw) as a “Rehmat ul lil Alameen” at the Islamic Supreme council of Canada BC chapter’s 7th Eid Milad un Nabi (saw) event on February 18th in Surrey.

The session was followed by question and answer session.

By: Raza Mirani
Jinny Sims and Jasbir Sandhu members of the parliament from Surrey area addressed an immigration forum that was organised by Pakistan Canada Association at Pakistan House on 22nd January.
The forum was attended by large number of Muslims from Pakistan, Fiji and Afghanistan having concerns about the immigration cases of their loved ones. Jinny and Jasbir listened to the concerns of people. They were informed about the tactics used by the Harper Government to create unnecessary delays in the immigration process. Jinny, stating from the statics issued by the government, revealed the difference in the processing times for different countries. Applications for Spousal sponsorship from China and Taiwan required 5 months, six months from India while the same application filed from Pakistan required 26 months.  MP Jasbir also responded to the concerns of the people blaming the unfair immigration policies of the Harper government.                                                                                    

  Later, Nikab issue was also taken up by Shahzad Mansoory and BCMA President Musa Ismail. They asked the MP’s to convey the concerns of the Muslim community to the Government and asked for the retraction of the statement of the Minister.                                                                                                                      

 Federal NDP Leadership Election candidate Mr. Brian Topp  also visited in Pakistan House and attended the last moment of the Forum .MP Jinny Sims introduced him. Mr. Topp reminded everyone for their NDP Membership and for March 24, 2012 - elect the next leader of Canada’s New Democrats. Mr. Raza Mirani General Secretary of PCA moderated the event while Arfan Malik President PCA chaired the forum along with MP Jinny and Jasbir.

Welfare Challenge: Parents say low welfare rates hurt their children and condemn the 100% claw backs of earnings and child support

Welfare rates are too low and 100% claw backs of earnings and child support keep parents from getting back into the workforce.  That’s what several parents on welfare told a news conference today at Strathcona Community Centre in Vancouver.  The parents were meeting with Surrey Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar who has accepted the “Welfare Challenge” to live on the welfare rate of $610 a month in January.
“I don’t have enough money for my daughter to participate in sports and it’s hard to afford school field trips and extra activities for my special needs daughter,” said Colleen Boudreau, a mother on disability.
“Government policy creates serious hardships for parents in poverty and on welfare,” said Ann Livingston, another single mother.  “When it comes to corporations or people in high tax brackets, it wants to give them more money and tax cuts to get them to work.  This double standard is making our kids feel left out of birthday parties and sports, and creating family stresses about money that can result in child apprehension.”  Referring to the 100% deduction of earnings, Livingston added: “All of us try to get extra money for our children, but when we’re on welfare it’s a criminal offense.”
Last week at a town hall meeting, low income residents said one of the top two reasons to increase welfare rates is to avoid child apprehensions.
Parents also said they need to be able to keep some of the money they earn so they can gradually get back into the workforce as their skills improve and their kids get older.  Currently BC is the only province in Canada where the government claws back 100% of earnings from parents who are “expected to work.”
“We’re furious that the government takes 100% of child support payments too,” said Brenn, another mother. “My child’s father does extra work to earn money to support his child but his child can’t get any of it because the government deducts 100% of it.”
Surrey Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar, who is spending the month living on the welfare rate of $610, listened to the stories, saying that the parents raised important issues affecting families and children living in poverty and on welfare. 
Background
In November 2011 there were over 13,000 single parent families on welfare in BC. Over 34,000 children are in single parent families on welfare.
There were 47,863 people in single parent families living on welfare, 35,397 on temporary assistance and a further 12,466 on Disability assistance
The welfare rules drive families into poverty. In order to receive welfare a family has to have less than $2,500 in assets.
A single parent family with a child receives a maximum of $570 a month for shelter and $376 a month for support.
A single parent with two children receives a maximum of $660 a month for shelter and $376 a month for support.
Single parents are not allowed to keep any earnings; every cent is clawed back by the government.
Every cent of child support from the absent parent is clawed back – all the money goes to the government so it is a government support payment not a child support payment.