Wynne visits mosque in wake of ‘cowardly act of terror’ in Quebec

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne (Pictured) visited a mosque Monday in the aftermath of a deadly attack in Quebec City to tell the Muslim community that “the only antidote to hatred is love.” (Photo: Kathleen Wynne/ Facebook)

TORONTO –Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne visited a mosque Monday in the aftermath of a deadly attack in Quebec City to tell the Muslim community that “the only antidote to hatred is love.”

“I want to just say that we are shocked,” Wynne told the Muslim Association of Canada Masjid Toronto following prayers.

“We hope that this can’t happen in Canada, can’t happen in our open society, but we can’t be smug. We have to remain vigilant.”

All Ontarians need to stand together for acceptance and an understanding that the province’s strength comes from the fact “we are different.”

“Sometimes those words are used in a trivial way but I absolutely believe that what makes us strong in this country, in this province in this city, is that we are different, and because we can understand each other and we learn to live together, then we have a different view of the world that is stronger because of our shared understanding.”

The shooting Sunday night at a Quebec mosque left six people dead and 19 injured.

“I am very disturbed by this cowardly act of terror,” Wynne said.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said in a statement that she was heartbroken to hear about the attack.

“Today, we stand in solidarity and mourning with Muslim-Canadians, and all those grieving in Quebec,” she wrote. “New Democrats condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and families of the victims.”

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown tweeted Sunday night that he was “horrified to learn of the unspeakable and shocking attack.”

Toronto Mayor John Tory asked citizens to come together to support Muslims and Canadians of all faiths and backgrounds.

“We are the most diverse city in the world and while the safety and security of our nation is always fist and foremost, we will continue our proud legacy of welcoming people from around the world, especially in their time of need and in their pursuit of new opportunities,” he said.