Conservative MPs may be tearing into the Liberals’ Motion 103 today, but last year they voted in favour of a very similar NDP motion that condemned “all forms of Islamophobia.”

On October 26, 2016, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said in the House of Commons, “Mr. Speaker, following discussions with all parties in the House, I hope you will find consent for the following motion. I move: That the House join the 69,742 Canadian supporters of House of Commons e-petition (e-411) in condemning all forms of Islamophobia.”

The motion passed unanimously.

Online petition e-44, initiated by Pierrefonds, Que., resident Samer Majzoub, called upon the House of Commons to recognize that “extremist individuals do not represent the religion of Islam, and (condemn) all forms of Islamophobia.” The petition was sponsored by the Liberal MP for Pierrefonds-Dollard, Frank Bayliss.

Initially, the Tories tried to block the motion, but they subsequently joined the rest of the House in passing it two weeks later.

On Wednesday evening, the House debated a motion by Liberal MP Iqra Khalid that also condemns Islamophobia. Conservative MPs and leadership candidates have suggested it would constrain freedom of speech. The Conservatives also object to what they say is a lack of clarity in the motion as to what constitutes ‘Islamophobia’.

The Conservatives used their opposition day motion to present a motion of their own, which condems all forms of systemic racism and religious intolerance — but avoids addressing anti-Muslim prejudice specifically. Heritage Minister Melanie Joly said the Liberals would oppose it.

“Here’s the thing, if we choose not to talk about it, it just doesn’t go away — which brings me to the opposition motion today. The Conservative party is presenting a weakened and watered-down motion,” she said.

“We will oppose it. The Conservatives have brought this motion forward in a cynical attempt to serve their political purposes and avoid addressing the real issue concerning Islamophobia.”