Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro, file photo. (Image: Canadian Press)

By Canadian Press

Alberta human rights chief refuses to quit over alleged Islamophobic comments

Sep 15, 2022 | 12:50 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The head of the Alberta Human Rights Commission is refusing to quit despite direction from Justice Minister Tyler Shandro to do so in a controversy surrounding alleged Islamophobic comments.

Collin May has hired lawyer Kathryn Marshall, who tweeted out that May has retained her services and will not be resigning.

Shandro hired May through a cabinet order and has the power to fire him.

Earlier this week, Shandro publicly urged May to quit after several Muslim groups called for May to be fired for not following through on a promise to meet with them.

May had said in July he would meet with the groups after they expressed concern about what they call Islamophobic comments he made in a book review 13 years ago in which May called Islam intrinsically violent and “one of the most militaristic religions known to man.”

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May says he does not hold such anti-Islamic views, and the editors of the book review say the essay makes it clear the offending comments were the views of the book author and not May.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2022

READ MORE: Alberta justice minister asks for resignation of new human rights chief