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Influence of Muslim voters is growing

By JEFF SALLOT

Monday, December 19, 2005 Posted at 2:25 PM EST

Globe and Mail Update

The political fate of three vulnerable cabinet ministers may depend on whether the Liberals can calm angry Arab and Muslim community groups between now and Jan. 23.

Arab and Muslim political activists are pressing the Liberals to change their policies in several areas. If the party won't act, the activists say they may call for strategic voting in 6-10 closely-fought ridings where their community makes up a small but significant part of the electorate.

It's not a one-way street, however. One prominent Arab Canadian is running for the Liberals and some Liberal MPs are considered friendly to the communities.

But anger runs deep over some issues, presenting challenges to at least three ministers seeking re-election.

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Heritage Minister Liza Frulla are in very close races in two Montreal ridings which have a significant number of voters from these communities.

Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan is also in an extremely tight race in Edmonton. Arab and Muslim groups are particularly irked by aspects of her national security policies and are thinking of throwing support to her Conservative challenger, despite their general dislike of Tory Mideast policy.

Canadian Arab and Muslim voters might also determine the outcome in another handful of ridings, including one in London, Ont., says Hussein Amery, president of the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

So, it's no surprise that Liberal Leader Paul Martin is spending part of today in London, Ont., a city with one of the largest concentrations of Arab and Muslim voters in Canada. Mr. Martin speaks tonight at the Islamic Centre of Southwestern Ontario.

"We're hearing from the Liberals quite a bit now," Mr. Amery says.

Arabs and Muslims have been part of the Canadian mosaic for more than a century. But their influence in Canadian politics has never been as strong, due to immigration in recent years.

Figures from the 2001 census show that the number of people professing the Muslim faith has increased almost 130 per cent in a decade to total 579,640 individuals. Islam is now Canada's fastest-growing religion.

The census showed that for the first time Muslims outnumber Jews, a demographic change that some commentators say could influence Canadian policy in the Middle East in years to come.

Despite their growing numbers, the first instinct of many members of the Arab and Muslim communities after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was to duck for cover, fearing a political backlash.

But the past year or so has seen an unprecedented level of political activity by community members. The groups are a regular fixture on Parliament Hill, appearing before Senate and House committees that have been reviewing an array of immigration, human rights and anti-terrorism bills.

Several individuals within the community have caught the political bug. For example, Omar Alghabra, the former national president of the Canadian Arab Federation, is the Liberal candidate in the riding of Mississauga-Erindale.

Community leaders say the organizations are not going to come out with any blanket endorsements of a party before Jan. 23. But Mr. Amery said they are likely to be strategic and make recommendations in six to ten ridings, including those of the three vulnerable ministers.

These are not easy decisions, he says, particularly in Québec because in many ways the Bloc position is close to that of the groups on a number of policies.

On foreign policy, for example, the Bloc is sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. And the Bloc has been a consistent champion of minority rights in the face of abuses condoned by federal Liberals, Mr. Amery said.

But there is also the separation issue. "We are strong believers in a united Canada."

The groups will also have to decide whether they are so angry with Ms. McLellan that they would help elect a Conservative MP.

Conservative foreign affairs critic Stockwell Day's Middle East policy is seen as being far too heavily slanted towards Israel, Mr. Amery said.

So at the moment, the Arab and Muslim groups are working on the Liberals, and Ms. McLellan in particular, to get her to soften her position on anti-terrorism legislation.

In particular, the groups would like the Liberals to abolish the use of ministerial warrants â€â€