A House of Commons committee will not study vandalism, arson, and other criminal attacks against places of worship in Canada after its chair ruled that a proposed study fell outside the committee’s mandate.
Conservative MP Andrew Lawton challenged the ruling, but committee members voted 7-4 to uphold it.
Lawton introduced a motion on Oct. 29 calling on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to examine vandalism, arson, shootings, and other criminal attacks against churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship across the country.
Committee chair Lisa Hepfner ruled the motion inadmissible, saying it dealt primarily with matters related to the Criminal Code rather than heritage or identity. She suggested Lawton bring the proposal to the justice or public safety committees instead….