Calgary lawyer Colin May began his new five-year term as chief this week after serving on the commission since 2019. “It was very shocking and disturbing and just disturbing to see some of the statements that Colin May made,” said Said Omar, Alberta advocacy officer for the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM). Collin May’s critique of Islamic Imperialism: A History by Israeli-British historian Efraim Karsh resurfaced earlier this month in an article published by The Progress Report, an Alberta news outlet. May’s comment highlighted Kars’ Islamophobic claim that religion is inherently militaristic in nature, under the guise of analysis. “[Karsh] it defies the multicultural illusion about peaceful Islam and goes to the heart of the matter. Islam is not a peaceful religion abused by radicals. On the contrary, it is one of the most militaristic religions known to man, and it is precisely this militaristic legacy that informs the actions of radicals across the Muslim world,” May wrote in his 2009 review.

  1. We are deeply concerned about the disturbing views about Islam once expressed in 2009 in the form of a book review by Collin May, the newly appointed head of the Alberta Human Rights Commission. https://t.co/mJgnlvcOI8 —@nccm The C2C Journal is primarily an online publication whose “unabashed bias is in favor of free markets, democratic governance, and individual liberty,” according to its website. It’s the same publication in which Paul Bunner, a former spokesman for Prime Minister Jason Kenney, wrote an op-ed that dismissed the “false genocidal story” of Canada’s residential school system and said Indigenous youth could be “ripe recruits” for violent uprisings. The NCCM is now working with May to see how it best serves Muslim communities. May’s review is problematic because it is based on stereotypes about Islam that most — if not all — Muslims do not support, and is based on an understanding of Islam that is flawed, Omar said. The council has reached out to May and members of the Alberta government and work is ongoing to rectify the situation with community members, he said. Said Omar, advocacy manager for the National Council of Muslim Canadians in Alberta, says May’s review is problematic, in part, because it is based on stereotypes of Islam that many Muslims do not believe. (nccm.ca) “A true apology must be a commitment to continued action and a true commitment to make amends,” Omar said. “We will let the community be the arbiter of his good faith efforts and sincerity.” CBC News has requested an interview with May. The committee responded, saying its policy mandate prevents a leader from giving media interviews in order to maintain neutrality, given the nature of the position, but passed a May statement issued last week. “I do not believe or accept the characterization of Islam as a militant religion or movement, especially in light of the important recent and diverse scholarship that is working to overcome misconceptions about Muslim history and philosophy,” May said in the statement. “I specifically want to affirm that Muslim Albertans are entitled to the full and equal respect afforded to all of our communities.” The commission, in a separate statement, said it is independent from the provincial government and is committed to abiding by the Alberta Human Rights Act. “We have a long history of working with Islamic organizations and the Muslim community and will continue our efforts to strengthen these relationships in the future,” the committee said. Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Shabir called on May to resign as head of the Alberta Courts and Human Rights Commission. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC)

“I am unable to receive on-the-job training”

Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Shabir called for May’s resignation, saying Albertans would be better served by someone who is educated and connected to Muslim communities. “The Alberta Human Rights Commission should not be a place to get on-the-job training,” Shabir said. “This position should be filled by a person who understands the diversity of this province, who understands the challenges that the BIPOC communities face, the indigenous communities.” Shabir also calls out May for only dealing with the review now, 13 years after he wrote it — and just as he’s assuming his role as chief. “He’s been on this committee for a while … if he had evolved his views, he should have come forward,” he said. He added that this situation casts further doubt on the provincial government’s vetting process, as well as the United Conservative Party’s commitment to addressing racism, particularly given the lack of significant action on 48 recommendations from the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council that were published last year. The Alberta government is scheduled to share details of an action plan to combat racism in the province next week. The Alberta Human Rights Commission should not be a place for [May] to get on-the-job training.- Irfan Sabir, opposition NDP justice critic The office of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General handled the review process for May. CBC News requested an interview with Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s minister of justice and attorney general. Sandro’s press secretary issued a statement. “The Government of Alberta does not agree with the characterization of Islam or the position expressed in the book review written in 2009,” the statement said. The Ministry of Justice accepted May’s statement and the government “will continue to hold the commission to its mandate of promoting equality and reducing discrimination in our province”, it added.