M-103, tabled by Liberal backbencher Iqra Khalid in December, passed by a vote of 201-91 Thursday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not in the House to vote.

A non-binding motion condemning Islamophobia and all forms of religious discrimination has easily passed the House of Commons.

Iqra Khalid is welcomed by her colleagues as she arrives to make an announcement about an anti-Islamophobia motion on Parliament Hill on Feb. 15, 2017. (Photo: Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)

Though largely symbolic, the motion has proven to be deeply divisive and has become a hot topic in the Conservative leadership race.

Michael Chong was the only Tory leadership contender to vote in favour of the motion and received applause from Liberals once he rose from his seat. Tory MP Bruce Stanton also voted for the motion.

Maxime Bernier, Andrew Scheer, Kellie Leitch, Steven Blaney, Brad Trost, and Erin O'Toole voted against M-103. Lisa Raitt and Deepak Obhrai were not in the House to vote one way or the other.

Bloc Quebecois MPs voted against the motion, while New Democrats voted in favour.

Some Tories have argued that since M-103 does not define Islamophobia, it could be a first step to restricting criticism of Islam. Others have argued it favours one religion over others.

Alternative Tory motion shot down

It has also been the subject of wild innuendo from right-wing websites in Canada and the United States who have presented M-103 as a piece of legislation and, most outrageously, suggested it will somehow lead to sharia law in Canada.

An alternative Tory motion condemning discrimination against Muslims, Jewish people, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and other religious groups was defeated by Liberals last month. The Tory motion did not include the word Islamophobia, leading Liberals to charge that Tories were attempting to “water down” the very purpose of the motion.

M-103 calls on the Commons heritage committee to study ways to reduce religious discrimination and systemic racism.

After the vote, Leitch took to Twitter to say she will fight Liberals "as they try to make this motion into legislation."