Opinion
The Canadian government must do more to combat hate crimes in Canada
By Shimon Koffler Fogel, Carlos A. Godoy L., Tobin Ansong Jan. 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.
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