National

FSWC-Commissioned Studies on Holocaust Education and Antisemitism

In a random survey of 1,000 Canadians commissioned by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center and conducted by Nanos Research in August 2018, nearly eight in ten Canadians (78%) believe that we need to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.  

On average, the survey found what has long been suspected by FSWC – that approximately 15% (5 million) Canadians express views that could be construed as antisemitic. The survey found that even though the Jewish community of Canada makes up less than 1% of the population, around 13% to 18% of Canadians believe Jewish people in Canada have "too much influence" in various areas such as the business world, the Canadian government and the global media.   

Quebec displayed the highest percentage of intolerance on average (ranging from 19-27% who said “too much influence” across the various areas) followed by Ontario and British Columbia, while Atlantic Canada generally displayed the least antisemitism (8.6-12% across the various areas) on average. Men surveyed appeared more likely to have antisemitic tendencies than women (17.5% vs. 9% using the lowest figures for each group across the various areas).

CLICK HERE to read the full report.

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A 2020 survey conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of FSWC revealed that a majority of Canadians (54%) agree that young people are not taught enough about the Holocaust in school and two-thirds of Canadians (64%) agree that young people today are less aware of the Holocaust and its lessons than in the past.

Canadian women are more likely (62%) than men (46%) to believe young people are not receiving enough education about the Holocaust, while Canadians aged 55 and older are more likely (64%) to believe this than those between the ages of 18-34 (45%).

The survey findings confirm an overwhelming support in the Canadian population for teaching young people about the Holocaust, with 93% of respondents agreeing that Holocaust education is “important” or “somewhat important.”

CLICK HERE to read the full report.

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Rising Tide of White Supremacy in Canada

A report released by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) in January 2019 examines the rampant resurgence of white supremacy in Canada, as the movement continues to hold a strong presence on campuses, in politics and at local rallies.

According to the latest “Rising Tide of White Supremacy in Canada” report – a follow-up to last year’s FSWC report on white supremacy – in excess of 100 white nationalist and alt-right groups are active in Canada.

CLICK HERE to read the full report.

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NATIONAL POLICE REPORTING

On July 22, 2019, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics released 2018 police-reported hate crime statistics, revealing the following:

• The total number of police-reported hate crimes decreased from 2,073 in 2017 to 1,798 in 2018
• The Jewish community remained the most targeted group, with 347 hate crimes committed against the community, amounting to 19% of all hate crimes
• The Black community was the second-most targeted (16%), followed by the Muslim and LGBTQ communities (10%)
• Hate crimes against the Jewish community decreased by 4% from 360 incidents in 2017
• Hate crimes against the Muslim community decreased by 50%; hate crimes against the Black community decreased by 12%

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In the summer of 2019, FSWC reached out to police services across Canada, asking them for their most current 2018 hate crime statistics.

Results are listed below.

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Barrie Police Service:

Number of hate crimes reported: 4

Types of hate crimes:

• Racist (2)
• Antisemitic (2)

Expression of hate crimes: Mischief

• “Nigga” spray painted on side of school
• Swastika and hateful text spray painted in underground parking area
• Words including “nigger” and “hail satan” in multiple areas of school
• Broken window and swastika drawn in chalk at school

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LaSalle Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 1

Type of hate crime:

• Anti-Greek and Muslim

Expression of hate crime:

• Hate speech: Garbage left at the front door of a Macedonian Orthodox church with writings that made rude comments toward Greeks and Muslims
  

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Saskatoon Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 11

Types of hate crimes:

• Race/Ethnicity (6)

• Religious (5)

All of these reports involved mischief to property and included the use of swastikas or a Nazi symbol, a threat to burn down a teepee and one directed against a“white boy.”

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York Regional Police

Number of hate crimes reported: 128

Types of hate crimes:

• Racist (64): Black (29), Aboriginal (1)
• Religion (45): Jewish (29), Muslim (8), Catholic (6)
• Sexual Orientation (10)
• Gender (3)
• Unknown (1)

There was a 10.2% decrease in hate crimes from 2017.

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Toronto Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 137

Types of hate crimes:

• Religion (69)
• Ethnicity (3)
• Sex/Gender (8)
• Nationality (8)
• Sexual Orientation (11)
• Race (17)
• Multi-Bias (21)

61 hate crimes targeted the Jewish community, 26 targeted the Black community, 26 targeted the Muslim community and 20 targeted the LGBTQ community.

Expression of hate crimes:

• Mischief of property (75)
• Assault (32)
• Utter Threats (15)
• Internet (3)

There was a 26% decrease in hate crimes from 2017.

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Halton Regional Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 33

Expression of hate crimes:

• Assault (1)
• Assist Public (2)
• General Info (5)
• Neighbour Dispute (1)
• Other Criminal Code (9)
• Property Damage (15)

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Edmonton Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported:

• 68 criminal offences motivated by hate / hate crimes
• 83 hate incidences (no criminal offence)

According to Edmonton Police Service, graffiti and racial slurs made up a large portion of reported incidents.

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Regina Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 2

Types of hate crimes:

• Antisemitic

Expression of hate crimes:

• Graffiti: Swastika spray painted on a bus shelter
• Online: Electronic message containing hateful statements with references to white genocide, Nazis and fascism

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Hamilton Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 125

• 120 hate/bias overtones
• 5 hate/bias motivated crimes

Types of hate crimes:

• Racial (58): Black (41), East and South East Asian (3), South Asian (7)
• Religion (49): Jewish (30), Muslim (14), Protestant (3)
• Sexual Orientation (18)

Expression of hate/bias motivated crimes:

• Assault (1)
• Assault with Weapon (2)
• Dangerous Operations of M.V. (1)
• Sexual Assault (1)

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