TORONTO - Several community groups are calling for a public inquiry to examine if race is affecting how school officials deal with students and whether a pattern of racial intolerance exists.
Wahida Valiante of the Canadian Islamic Congress says the Ontario government has done nothing to address the isolation and alienation Muslims have felt since the Sept. 11 attacks.
Valiante and groups like the Canadian Arab Federation and the Muslim Unity Group believe schools are a microcosm for society, and examining how students and officials interact would be valuable.
They brought forward the idea of an inquiry following reports that a Muslim girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in a Toronto high school but officials did not call police to report it.
They say that attack may be part of a larger pattern that's emerging.
The groups also want a meeting with stakeholders, including the ministers of education and public safety, the attorney general, and Toronto police.
