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.
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.
On July 22, 2019, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics released 2018 police-reported hate crime statistics, revealing the following:
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.
Barrie Police Service:
Number of hate crimes reported: 4
Types of hate crimes:
Expression of hate crimes: Mischief
LaSalle Police Service
Number of hate crimes reported: 1
Type of hate crime:
Expression of hate crime:
Saskatoon Police Service
Number of hate crimes reported: 11
Types of hate crimes:
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.”
York Regional Police
Number of hate crimes reported: 128
Types of hate crimes:
There was a 10.2% decrease in hate crimes from 2017.
Toronto Police Service
Number of hate crimes reported: 137
Types of hate crimes:
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:
There was a 26% decrease in hate crimes from 2017.
Halton Regional Police Service
Number of hate crimes reported: 33
Expression of hate crimes:
Edmonton Police Service
Number of hate crimes reported:
According to Edmonton Police Service, graffiti and racial slurs made up a large portion of reported incidents.
Regina Police Service
Number of hate crimes reported: 2
Types of hate crimes:
Expression of hate crimes:
Hamilton Police Service
Number of hate crimes reported: 125
Types of hate crimes:
Expression of hate/bias motivated crimes: