(Ottawa) New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh believes Canadians can and must do better to counter hate crimes that have increased in the country since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas two months ago.
In an end-of-year interview with The Canadian Press, Mr. Singh argues that there must be a space for citizens to express their fears, concerns and political opinions without falling into hatred.
The New Democratic leader says he recently spoke to Jewish and Muslim Canadians worried about their safety amid a surge in hate-motivated violence in the country – and who fear wearing religious symbols, which are nevertheless part of their identity.
Mr. Singh recalls that as a child he himself was bullied for wearing a turban, so he knows how terrifying it can be to stick to your beliefs in the face of hatred.
He believes that Canadians must create a respectful environment for others, where people can be who they are without risk of intimidation.
The heightened fears come after Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and held around 240 hostages on October 7. The Israeli army has so far killed nearly 22,000 people in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian authorities.