National

FSWC COMMISSIONED STUDY ON HOLOCAUST & 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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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 November 29, 2018, Statistics Canada released its Police-reported hate crime in Canada, 2017 report. Some highlights from the report are as follows:

• Police-reported hate crime in Canada rose sharply in 2017, up 47% over the previous year.
• Police reported 2,073 hate crimes, 664 more than in 2016.
• The greatest increase in the overall number of police-reported hate crimes was observed in Ontario, where incidents rose from 612 in 2016 to 1,023 in 2017.
• There were 842 hate crimes targeting religious groups in 2017, up 83% from the previous year and accounting for 41% of hate crimes.
• Hate crimes against the Jewish population increased for the second consecutive year, rising by 63% from 221 in 2016 to 360 in 2017.
• Hate crimes targeting the Jewish population accounted for 18% of all hate crimes in Canada.
• The greatest increase in the overall number of police-reported hate crimes was observed in Ontario, where incidents rose from 612 in 2016 to 1,023 in 2017.
• In Quebec, incidents rose by 162; in Alberta by 53; and in British Columbia by 44.

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In the summer of 2018, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies reached out to police services across Canada, asking them for their most current 2017 hate crime statistics. Results are listed below.

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Barrie Police Service:

Number of hate crimes reported: 18
Type of hate crime(s):

• 10 Antisemitic
• 3 Sexual orientation
• 5 Racist

Expression of hate crime(s):

• 11 Mischief
• 1 Trouble with youth
• 1 Harassment
• 3 Assault
• 2 Police information

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LaSalle Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 4
Type of hate crime(s):

• 3 Racist
• 1 Suspicious circumstances

Expression of hate crime(s):

• 2 Slurs and threats
• 1 Assault
• 1 Trespass

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Kawartha Lakes Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 1
Type of hate crime(s): 

• Sexual Orientation

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Montreal Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 250 
Type of hate crime(s):

• 116 Religion
• 76 Ethnicity
• 27 Sexual orientation
• 3 Sexual in nature
• 3 Language
• 23 Other circumstances such as political opinions
• 3 Unknown

The religions most targeted were Muslim (59) and Jewish (43).

Number of hate incidents (non-criminal acts) reported: 173

• 108 Religion
• 52 Ethnicity
• 3 Sexual in nature
• 3 Sexual orientation
• 1 Age
• 4 Others
• 2 Unknown

The religions most targeted were Muslim (80) and Jewish (21).

As of end of July 2018, 144 hate crimes and 64 hate incidents have been reported so far.

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Niagara Regional Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 24
Type of hate crime(s): 

• 7 Antisemitic

Expression of hate crime(s):

• 18 Graffiti

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 Saskatoon Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 4
Type of hate crime(s): 

• 1 Antisemitic
• 3 Racist

Expression of hate crime(s):

• 1 Assault
• 1 Uttering threats
• 1 Harassment
• 1 Mischief

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York Regional Police

Number of hate crimes reported: 86
Type of hate crime(s): 

• 54 Race/ethnicity
• 67 Religion
• 15 Sexual orientation
• 1 Gender

Hate crimes dramatically increased in York Region by almost 60%, going from 86 incidents in 2016 to 137 incidents in 2017.

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Toronto Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 186
Type of hate crime(s):

• 53 Jewish
• 33 Black
• 33 Muslim
• 27 Multi-Bias
• 22 LGBTQ
• 5 White
• 4 Pakistani
• 4 Chinese
• 3 Brown Skinned
• 1 Somali
• 1 Canadian

Expression of hate crime(s):

• 31 Assault
• 7 Criminal harassment
• 2 Public incitement of hatred
• 120 Mischief
• 21 Utter threats
• 2 Weapons dangerous
• 3 Wilful promotion of hatred

There was a 28% increase in hate crimes, going from 145 occurences in 2016 to 186 in 2017.

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Hamilton Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 136
Type of hate crime(s):

• 67 Racial bias
• 41 Religion
• 27 Sexual orientation

The most targeted group was the Black community, followed by the LGBTQ, Jewish and Muslim communities.

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Ontario Provincial Police

Number of hate crimes reported: 29
Type of hate crime(s):

• 4 Black (2 Assault, 2 Mischief)
• 5 Jewish (Mischief)
• 7 Christian (Mischief)
• 1 German (Mischief)
• 1 Indigenous (Mischief)
• 5 LGBTQ (Mischief)
• 2 Muslim (Threats)
• 1 White (Threat)
• 3 Unspecified (1 Assault, 1 Mischief, 1 Threat)

Expression of hate crime(s):

• 5 Mischief to religious property
• 20 Hate bias crime (i.e., graffiti, vandalism in which no suspect was identified)
• 3 Hate propaganda crime
• 1 Suspected by officer

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Waterloo Regional Police Service

Number of hate crimes reported: 53
Type of hate crime(s):

• 15 Antisemitic

Location of hate crime(s):

• 14 Schools
• 6 Religious institutions
• 6 Businesses
• 27 Public spaces

Number of hate crimes expected to go up in 2018 as more people begin to report hate crimes.

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Vancouver Police Department

Number of criminal hate crime offences: 79
Type of hate crime(s):

• 33 Race/ethnicity
• 28 Religion
• 8 Sexual orientation
• 1 Mental/physical disability
• 7 Sex
• 2 Other similar factor

Number of reported hate crime incidents: 26
Type of hate crime(s):

• 11 Race/ethnicity
• 11 Religion
• 1 Sexual orientation
• 3 Sex

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Cobourg Police Service

Number of hate crime(s) reported: 4
Type of hate crime (s):

• 2 Religion (Jewish)
• 2 Race (Black and unknown)

Expression of hate crime(s):

• Graffiti/mischief via spray paint