Ban on kaffiyeh sparks tension at Queen’s Park

Independent MPP Jama defies Speaker’s order to leave chamber

Defiant Independent MPP Sarah Jama refused to leave the Ontario legislature for wearing a Palestinian kaffiyeh, despite a prohibition on “overtly political” attire.

Speaker Ted Arnott gave the order for Jama (Hamilton Centre) to leave during Thursday morning’s question period, after an earlier complaint and ruling that the black-and-white scarves flout longstanding rules against political symbols in the legislative chamber.

The sergeant-at-arms also spoke to Jama in the legislature and asked her to remove the kaffiyeh, but she demurred.

“This ban was arbitrarily put in place,” the first-term MPP later told reporters, adding “every party leader has spoken up about how this ban shouldn’t exist.”

She said the kaffiyeh is cultural, but “my job is to be political, and so I will continue to wear this garment.”

Arnott told reporters that while Jama would not be allowed back in the chamber Thursday or to participate in any committees, “there was no way for me to have her removed, short of physical force. I wasn’t prepared to do that.”

Jama uses a mobility scooter. Arnott would not comment on what will happen should she wear the kaffiyeh in the house again.

Jama has said she plans to continue wearing it, warning it would be an “undue escalation” if she were to be forced out.

Kaffiyehs have a history dating back thousands of years, and have become a common sight at pro Palestinian rallies since the Oct. 7 attack against Israel by Hamas and the subsequent retaliation by the Israeli military in Gaza.

The NDP has twice sought, unsuccessfully, to have the ban overturned in the house, which would require unanimous consent from MPPs.

Even though that has the support of all party leaders, including Premier Doug Ford, a handful of Progressive Conservative MPPs have refused to overrule Arnott.

Ford was asked about the standoff with Jama on Thursday in Alliston, where he was announcing a new Honda EV factory. “The Speaker runs the legislature — I don’t,” he said. “That was his choice.”

Jama was kicked out of the New Democrat caucus last October for insubordination after being forced to apologize twice to the Jewish community for comments about Israel.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles called Jama’s removal order “outrageous,” and then approached her in the legislature to offer support.

Stiles said “the government has upheld that ban and they need to do the right thing” and allow the kaffiyeh.

In the legislature, House Leader Paul Calandra said “what the leader of the opposition is doing is dividing people by suggesting that the government of Ontario has a ban. That is not the case … the government of Ontario has not banned anything.”

But Stiles said “Ontario is a very diverse place. People come here from all over the world and they bring their traditions and their culture with them … We should be able to wear those items of clothing proudly here.”

While Jama has said she “hopes one day for reconciliation” with the NDP, Stiles told reporters that’s “not part of the conversations we’re having right now.”