Opinion
The Canadian government must do more to combat hate crimes in Canada
By Shimon Koffler Fogel, Carlos A. Godoy L., Tobin Ansong January 4, 2017
While Canada is in many ways a model, we are by no means immune to worrisome trends emerging in Europe and the United States. In November, a spike in hateful vandalism hit our nation’s capital, with targeted institutions including a Jewish community centre, several synagogues, a mosque, and a church.
According to Statistics Canada data from 2013, the Black community is the most frequently targeted racial or ethnic segment in Canada. Photograph courtesy of Tony Webster
When it comes to the health of a society, there are few symptoms of concern as telling as hate crimes. The frequency of such incidents and the response of government and civil society are a litmus test for a country’s commitment to the values of liberal democracy. As individuals from three diverse minority groups—the Jewish, LGBTQ, and Black communities—we are united by a shared desire to ensure that Canada never fails this test.
Open-letter: 47 groups urge Minister Wilkinson to act on Vista thermal coal mine
Sponsored by Ecojustice
Related Stories
Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
Trudeau’s penchant for political appointees shows lack of appreciation for ambassadors’ work: former senior diplomat
'[Trudeau] neglects the fact that you need experience and competent people,' says Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian ambassador to China from 2012 to 2016. A look at rookie MP Sloan’s underdog leadership campaign
Team Sloan is led by former Scheer staffer Paula Iturri, and includes Ashley Brown as tour director and Daniel Paolini, who’s currently a member of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party executive. Wernick’s warning of political violence reflects increasing polarization, say politicos, experts
There’s been a normalization of hateful language online, says terrorism expert Jessica Davis, who noted a ‘Trudeau effect’ in the extreme animosity voiced by some online.Prison watchdog has ‘grave’ concerns that CSC rates Indigenous, Black inmates as higher risk
Disproportionate number of Black and Indigenous offenders placed in higher security institutions by the CSC 'doesn’t add up,' says Sen. Bernard.
More nuanced, test-focused approach needed to reopen Canada-U.S. border, say experts
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has called for Canada and the United States to 'immediately craft a comprehensive framework for phased reopening of the border.' Canada, host countries should bolster efforts to mitigate COVID-19 spread in ‘displaced communities,’ says refugee advocacy group
'It is hard to imagine a crisis—even one half its dimension—where the international community had done so little to rally together,' says Refugees International. Ex-Liberal MPs running in next election eagerly await start of nomination process
The Liberal Party is consulting MPs and grassroots members to determine rules for candidate nominations in held and unheld ridings for the next election, says spokesman Braeden Caley.Too soon to say if StatsCan will bring in more racialized researchers, says official; ‘we’re just building those relationships’
In July 2019, the agency established the Centre for Indigenous Statistics and Partnerships. It also employs 11 Indigenous liaison advisors to help it collect data on Indigenous people in Canada. Opposition MPs decry lack of transparency around government’s COVID-19 advertising spending
Just over $48.5-million was added to the Privy Council Office’s budget for 'communications and marketing (COVID-19)' in the most recent round of supplementary estimates, which were passed by Parliament on June 17.Trending Stories
