As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada fully implement all recommendations of the 2023 Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights’ report entitled Combatting Hate: Islamophobia and its impact on Muslims in Canada and follow through on all of the commitments made at the 2021 National Summit on Islamophobia.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada:

• formally recognize discrimination towards Palestinians as a distinct group;
• invest in research to better understand this form of discrimination, including how it intersects with Islamophobia and anti-Arab discrimination; and
• develop a concrete plan to combat this form of discrimination in consultation with Muslim, Arab and Palestinian communities.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada, in its public communications, firmly and unequivocally denounce Islamophobia and related forms of discrimination, including discrimination towards Arabs and Palestinians.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada develop, in consultation with Muslim, Arab and Palestinian communities, and respecting the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, initiatives aimed at promoting cultural understanding, challenging stereotypes and fostering empathy towards these communities, and provide sufficient resources to ensure the efficacy of these initiatives.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada, in line with its commitment to build strong communities and celebrate multiculturalism,  respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation and collaboration with, the provinces and territories, provide funding for civic initiatives in communities across the country that teach critical thinking, digital literacy and resilience against all forms of hatred and extremism, including Islamophobia, anti-Arab discrimination, anti-Palestinian discrimination, antisemitism and other forms of bigotry.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada develop legislative measures or policies to promote greater transparency with respect to social media algorithms, content enforcement policies and advertising, and to hold social media companies accountable for the harms they cause.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada develop legislative measures to address online hate in consultation with, notably, members of Muslim, Arab and Palestinian communities, and that such measures include rigorous oversight mechanisms to guard against the suppression of legitimate speech from such groups.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada enhance Public Safety Canada’s Security Infrastructure Program by providing a liaison officer to assist with the application process in emergency situations.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada provide additional resources to community-based initiatives to combat Islamophobia, anti-Arab discrimination and anti-Palestinian discrimination across the country, including research and data collection initiatives.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada provide additional resources to establish and maintain dedicated police hate crime units across the country.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada take active steps to better understand and address Islamophobia, anti-Arab discrimination and anti-Palestinian discrimination in federal workplaces, including revising relevant laws, policies, and professional development initiatives.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada increase resources available to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and other relevant federal agencies to develop programs aimed at preventing antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Arab discrimination and anti-Palestinian discrimination in the workplace.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada, respecting the jurisdiction of, and in consultation and collaboration with, the provinces and territories affirm the need for educational institutions, including universities, colleges and post-secondary institutions: to support the freedom of expression, academic freedom, safety and well-being of all students, staff and faculty; to provide clear direction on the difference between feeling safe and being uncomfortable; to increase representation of Muslim, Palestinian and Arab faculty members; and to dedicate resources to support students, faculty and staff, including designating Special Advisors to the Presidents to provide advice on civil liberties, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada provide funding for the further collection of quantitative and qualitative data regarding experiences of Islamophobia, anti-Arab discrimination and anti-Palestinian discrimination on university campuses across the country.

Recommendation 15

That the Government of Canada convene a national review committee, comprised of federal, provincial and municipal representatives, university administrators, faculty members, and students, to understand the impact of increased Islamophobia, anti-Arab discrimination and anti-Palestinian discrimination across campuses, and to develop non-binding recommendations to ensure a healthier campus environment.