About 71 per cent of Muslim women surveyed in Quebec considered leaving the province for work due to the affects of Bill 21, during the pandemic. This is according to a new study published by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM).
The study is called the ‘Social Discord and Second-Class Citizenship’ and includes, “research and insights into the damage that Bill 21 does to the social fabric of Quebec, as the law marginalizes Muslim women in ways that were previously unexamined.”
According to the research, 54 per cent of Muslim women have experienced racist and prejudicial comments from their colleagues and 49 per cent have experienced microaggressions in the workplace.
In addition, 73 per cent of the Muslim women surveyed in Quebec said that Bill 21 has affected their future work prospects.
“Such emigration would lead to an estimated lost income of around $3.2 billion,” reads the results.
The study was completed in collaboration with Abacus Data, Dr. Nadia Z. Hasan (York University) and co-authors Lina El-Bakir and Youmna Badawy.
“By combining in-depth interviews with 10 Muslim women, along with wide surveys with 411 Quebec Muslim women and 750 others in the general Quebec population completed in collaboration with Abacus Data, the study provides an essential snapshot of how Bill 21 systematically corners Muslim women into vulnerable positions as second-class citizens,” said Dr. Nadia Hasan, one of the authors of the report.
The study further explains how one in four Muslim women found it easier to work and job hunt while COVID-19 measures were in place.
Since Bill 21 became law, Muslim women in Quebec report feeling a lost sense of belonging, alongside high levels of alienation and bleak outlooks on the future, the survey report states.
Some 73 per cent have either applied for work outside of Quebec, or are considering it, and 66 per cent are thinking of working for Muslim organizations to avoid Bill 21’s scrutiny.
According to the NCCM, 64 per cent of the Muslim women surveyed expressed mistrust with the government, and 88 per cent feel that Quebec is a “much less welcoming place to live.”
Also, 90 per cent agreed that the province is an unwelcoming place to work because of Bill 21.
“The findings of this study confirm what we all know. The very real and damaging effects of taking away the fundamental rights of your own citizens.” said NCCM CEO Stephen Brown.