SadaOnline: Interview About CMPAC MuslimsVote.ca Campaign to Engage Arab Vote

April 8, 2025 | Reading Time: 11 minutes

For the Arabic version: Khaled Al-Qazzaz on the MuslimsVote Campaign: Discrimination and Incitement Against the Muslim and Arab Community Has Increased – The Palestinian Cause and Its Impact in Canada Have Become Central Issues

Canadian Muslims have witnessed firsthand that silence or passivity regarding Gaza comes with consequences — not only abroad but in their daily lives.

In March, the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) launched MuslimsVote.ca, a leading national platform that mobilizes Canadian Muslims toward a unified, principled, and politically focused voting strategy. According to CMPAC’s statement, this campaign marks “a significant shift from the traditional non-partisan, fear-based approaches” that have long characterized Muslim civic engagement in Canada.

CMPAC’s statement adds: “The MuslimsVote.ca 2025 campaign revolves around the hashtag #VoteForGaza, a direct response to the war in Gaza and its growing impact on domestic issues, including freedom of expression, civil liberties, Canada’s international reputation, rising structural Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism.”

With Muslim voters holding influence in over 90 electoral districts and the ability to decisively impact at least 30 ridings, this represents a pivotal moment in the election cycle.

“This campaign is not about party loyalty,” says the statement. “It’s about principled leadership. MuslimsVote.ca will support candidates across the political spectrum who have taken bold and credible stances on Gaza and justice.”

On the website MuslimsVote.ca, the message reads:
“Vote for principle. Vote for Gaza. Vote for justice. When we vote together, we can shape election outcomes and demand accountability. In this election, let’s vote consciously and make sure our concerns are heard.”

In light of this campaign and the urgency of standing with Gaza amid Western and Arab silence and complicity, Sada Online spoke with Mr. Khaled Al-Qazzaz, Executive Director of the Canadian Muslim Political Affairs Council.

In addition to this role, Al-Qazzaz is a journalist, human rights activist, educational technology expert, and innovative learning consultant. He is also the founder of the Al-Qazzaz Foundation for Education and Development in Canada. The following is the interview:

You launched the MuslimsVote.ca campaign under the slogan “Vote for Gaza.” What led you to do this? Do you believe support for Gaza should be an essential part of electoral platforms?

We launched MuslimsVote.ca in response to a crucial need within the Canadian Muslim community for clear guidance on the elections. Since October 7, discrimination and incitement against Muslim and Arab communities have increased, and the Palestinian cause and its impact on our community in Canada have become central issues. A community poll clearly showed that 75% of Canadian Muslims say Gaza and foreign policy will be major factors in how they vote — making voting for Gaza a vital concern in the upcoming elections.

Canadian Muslims and Arabs are deeply concerned about the 1.9 million displaced Palestinians, over 186,000 civilians killed in the Israeli genocide — 70% of whom are women and children — and the 93% of Gaza’s population facing potential famine due to food insecurity. As Israel violates the ceasefire, the genocide continues.

But Gaza is no longer just a foreign policy issue — it’s now a domestic one. The genocide has fueled Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, political repression, and threats to civil liberties in Canada. Voters are not only demanding foreign policy change, but accountability for how Canadian policies affect them at home. Politicians need to realize that the community is watching — and silence or complicity will no longer be accepted.

How is the campaign progressing? What tools and methods are you using?

MuslimsVote.ca has gained national momentum by mobilizing thousands of voters through digital outreach, grassroots organizing, and direct engagement. Within the first few days, over 1,000 volunteers signed up. We’ve built teams across Canada, actively working in ridings where Muslim and Arab voters can have a significant impact.

The campaign relies on data analysis, polling, and in-depth research into candidates’ positions. We then endorse candidates who support our campaign’s demands. The website also offers educational resources to help Muslim and Arab voters make informed choices. We provide voters with tools to directly contact candidates and pressure them to align with our policy priorities. Volunteers can also participate in canvassing for endorsed candidates across Canada.

What are your criteria for endorsing candidates? Do you support them regardless of party affiliation?

Candidate endorsements are directly tied to whether the candidate publicly supports our political demands related to the Palestinian issue. We endorse one candidate per riding — from any party. We do not endorse any party wholesale.

CMPAC conducts extensive research into candidates’ voting records, public statements, and direct community engagement. We evaluate candidates based on their positions on Gaza, human rights, civil liberties, and Islamophobia — regardless of party affiliation.

Have you engaged with decision-makers or candidates to address the rise in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism?

Yes, CMPAC engages not only with candidates but also with party leadership regarding the community’s concerns about rising Islamophobia and suppression of pro-Palestinian voices. We’ve met with candidates from various parties and urged them to take clear, public stances against discrimination, political intimidation, and civil rights violations.

However, some political leaders — including Pierre Poilievre — have refused to engage with Canadian Muslim organizations. This is deeply concerning and signals a disregard for Muslim Canadian voters.

Some voters who support Palestinian rights still vote for pro-Zionist candidates. Why does that happen, and what can be done?

Historically, many voters felt forced into “strategic voting,” choosing the “lesser evil” instead of voting on principle. But the past 16 months have changed the political landscape. Canadian Muslims have seen for themselves that silence or inaction on Gaza has real consequences — not only abroad but in their everyday lives.

Principled voting aims to break that cycle and ensure candidates only gain community support if they stand for justice and human rights. More on this here:
https://muslimsvote.ca/2025/03/22/where-has-fear-based-voting-and-strategic-voting-gotten-us-as-a-community/

How do you assess the general Canadian public’s reaction? Have you conducted any surveys?

Yes. A national survey conducted by the Canadian Muslim Committee found that 75% of Canadian Muslims say Gaza and foreign policy will be decisive in their vote. More details here:
https://muslimsvote.ca/2025/03/26/community-survey-results-insights-into-canadian-muslim-voter-priorities/

Additionally, a Mainstreet Research poll found:

55% of all Canadians support an arms embargo on Israel,
49% want it extended to include spare parts and training,
56% support implementing the ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

These results show that Canada’s role in Gaza is a national issue, not just a concern for Canadian Muslims.

Have you faced challenges or opposition due to the campaign’s direction? How do you handle them?

So far, we haven’t faced direct opposition. On the contrary, the MuslimsVote.ca campaign has resonated strongly in communities across Canada. The site has had thousands of visits, over 50,000 flyers were distributed during Ramadan and Eid, and people value it as a vital resource. More than 1,000 volunteers have signed up to mobilize voters and engage local communities.

Political parties are also increasingly interested in meeting with us and understanding our platform. Candidates — especially from the Liberal Party — are engaging with our campaign and recognizing the importance of Muslim votes. More and more candidates are taking clear stances on Gaza, showing that the campaign is influencing political discourse.

Do you think your message will resonate given broader Canadian concerns about the economy, security, and national interests?

Canadian Muslims deeply care about this country — its prosperity, safety, and stability. They want a strong Prime Minister who can respond to these concerns and improve our nation. But we also believe a strong leader must take a principled stand on human rights, civil liberties, and Canada’s global role in upholding international law.

The threat posed by Trump to Canada mirrors the same threat we see in Gaza — a world where international law is undermined, where countries violate human rights with impunity, and where global stability erodes. Standing up for justice and the rule of law abroad directly strengthens Canada’s national security, global credibility, and moral leadership.

We reject the false narrative that prioritizing Gaza is incompatible with concerns about Canada’s economy, security, or national interest.

More on this here:
https://canadianmuslimpac.ca/ova_doc/opinion-why-gaza-matters-to-every-canadian-in-the-federal-election/

How can individuals support your campaign? What’s your message to undecided voters?

We urge voters to:

● Visit MuslimsVote.ca and sign up for election updates or to volunteer.
● Contact candidates, pressure them, and demand clear stances on Gaza, human rights, and civil liberties.
● Mobilize their communities to positively engage in the upcoming elections — speak with family, friends, and local networks to ensure strong, principled voter turnout.

CMPAC’s Political Action and Accountability Committee sent a letter last month to Prime Minister Mark Carney stating that Canada’s continued political and military support for Israel has made the country complicit in war crimes in Palestine. The letter also noted that Canadians who criticized the genocide in Gaza faced intimidation, job suspensions, censorship, and public defamation — a serious erosion of democratic rights.

Has there been any response from Mark Carney or the Liberal Party?

The Prime Minister’s Office acknowledged receipt of our letter and confirmed that it had been carefully reviewed. We were told it had been shared with:

Mélanie Joly (Minister of Foreign Affairs),
Gary Anandasangaree (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada),
Rachel Bendayan (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship),
Steven Guilbeault (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Quebec Lieutenant).

While this acknowledgment is a step forward, we haven’t seen these concerns reflected in the party’s platform or official messaging. However, many Liberal candidates are committed to voicing the issues raised in the letter — especially those related to Gaza — which is encouraging. Their willingness to engage shows the growing influence of principled Muslim voting in shaping political discourse.

Are there future CMPAC initiatives planned in support of Gaza post-election?

Yes. During the elections, we’re actively training volunteers in community outreach and supporting the campaigns of endorsed candidates. We’re organizing Friday prayer campaigns and town halls across cities to engage voters, raise awareness, and build support for Gaza and other key issues affecting Canadian Muslims.

Beyond the elections, we’re planning speaker tours, advocacy efforts, continued voter engagement with elected officials, and support for student activism on the issue at universities. Our team will remain active in Ottawa and Parliament to ensure our community’s concerns are consistently heard at both federal and local levels.