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Canada draws up action plan to combat hate crimes

Canada moves to tackle a spate of hate crimes in the country.

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Rowena Papasin

TFC News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wlEbbBsWECs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>Police-reported hate crimes in Canada have gone up by 32 percent in the past two years, or from 3,612 in 2022 to 4,777 in 2023. The unprecedented spread of online hate coming from far-right groups has also raised fears that this will create further social division and encourage more violence. In a bid to address these alarming trends, the government has unveiled its first-ever action plan to combat hate. “We&#x27;ve all been very shocked by the alarming rise of hate that we have seen,&quot; said Canada&#x27;s diversity minister Kamal Khera. &quot;Whether it is on our streets or online, we know that if hate is unchecked, it has real consequences.&quot; Khera said the program will invest almost $275 million over a period of six years to tackle hatred. She said 50 percent of the funding will go directly to communities, as they know best what needs to be done on the ground. Victims and survivors will also be supported, while the readiness of law enforcement and other institutions will also be built up. “It’s really about safety and unity,&quot; said Khera. &quot;Because ultimately, it doesn&#x27;t matter who you are or how you pray or who you love. You should be able to feel safe in your home, in your community, and online.” Still, another issue that may cause more divisions if not addressed is the pushback to the sudden increase in the number of new immigrants in the country. One such city that saw a rise in newcomers is Langley, which now has the largest growing immigrant population in British Columbia. The Langley Community Services Society shared that the increasing diversity has resulted in incidents of racism. “Some members of the community feel that the housing crisis is exacerbated by immigrants coming into the country,&quot; said Ana Marie Panczel of the Langley Community Services Society. &quot;And so, that&#x27;s part of what we&#x27;re trying to do here,&quot; Panczel added. &quot;To introduce different cultures so members could understand that they&#x27;re not here to take jobs, to take housing, but to help the economy.&quot; To help familiarize the community and foster understanding of the new cultures, the city, through its local immigration partnership, recently held a global festival. The event  showcased cultural presentations from the Chinese community, South Asians, and the Filipino community, among other cultures. “[It] is important to showcase our culture,&quot; said Merline Fayusal of the group Sampaguita Seniors, &quot;our dances, to make them aware that there are also Filipinos here in B.C.”Khera admitted that they are also concerned about the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment in many parts of Canada.&quot;When people are fearful, they act a different way,&quot; she said. &quot;And we know that fear is a disease that leads to hate, that leads to the type of things that we&#x27;re talking about that we need to address.”The minister stressed the importance of pursuing the comprehensive action plan to combat hate. Khera said this would make sure that Canada will continue to be a safer and more inclusive place for everyone.