MPP goes after more money for London Muslim centre

A London agency praised globally for its work to prevent domestic violence in the Muslim community should get more government money, an area MPP says.

New Democrat Peggy Sattler raised the issue at Queen’s Park this week, a month after writing to Premier Kathleen Wynne urging the province to provide London’s Muslim Resource Centre with annual funding.

“I learned about the work they did, was very impressed and want to support them,” said Sattler, adding this is the first request she has made since being elected in a byelection more than a year ago.

Created in 2009, the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration works with Muslim families at risk for or experiencing family violence.

The centre’s founder, Dr. Mohammed Baobaid — who received the Victim Services Award of Distinction at Queen’s Park for his work — has built unprecedented partnerships with domestic abuse agencies, the Children’s Aid Society and London’s Cross Cultural Learner Centre.

Last week, the Muslim Resource Centre held a two-day provincial conference geared at educating social workers on the model developed in London — which has been repeatedly praised as a success.

“It’s kind of amazing,” said Regina Bell of the CAS, which started a formal partnership with the centre in 2009. “In 2006, we had 26 Muslim kids in care and in 2009 we reduced the number to six. It’s really made a difference.”

Directors of other agencies in London, including Tim Kelly of Changing Ways, which provides services for abusive men, echoed Bell’s statements.

Despite that — and being recognized provincially, nationally and even internationally, and with agencies from as far as Denmark visiting London in effort to develop a way to adopt the model — the centre functions mostly on per-project provincial grants and donations.

As a result, it only employs one part-time counsellor and two on contract for work that could easily keep two full time counsellors and two other staff busy, said office manager Mavis Lau.

Sattler, who has not advocated for money for any other local agency as an MPP, wrote a letter to Wynne last month, “urging the government to provide some sustainable funding,” she said.

“To date there’s been no government commitment,” she said.

See more on this Topic