The number of hate crimes brought to the attention of police across the country jumped 27% between 2020 and 2021, Statistics Canada revealed on Tuesday. Data that alarms in particular the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), which calls for more government action to support its victims.
The report of the federal agency also underlines that this increase is notably attributable to that of crimes “motivated by hatred towards a religion, a sexual orientation and a race or an ethnic origin”.
It should also be noted that almost 35,000 sexual assaults were brought to the attention of the police in 2021, which corresponds to the highest rate recorded since 1996. The rates of offenses committed with a firearm, offenses related to stalking and homicidal behavior also increased.
“Every year, we see that the numbers are on the rise. It’s time to act and improve the support offered to victims,” says CRRF Director of Communications, Elysia Bryan-Baynes, who is particularly interested in the evolution of hate crimes in the country. She also recalls that a survey carried out in 2019 by Statistics Canada revealed that “80% of hate crimes are not reported to the police”.
The foundation represented by Elysia Bryan-Baynes, who has drawn up her own report on the subject, calls for the creation of a national fund of $44 million to help victims and the organizations that work with them. Among his other demands is the establishment of an emergency fund that would allow municipalities to support their community in the event of a hate crime, as well as the creation of an online portal intended to facilitate communication between organizations. assistance.
“We spoke with a hundred organizations, and they say the same thing: they need more funding and more training,” says Ms.me Bryan Baynes. “Organizations have already set up networks in their community,” she adds. We want to continue with that and improve that line. »
An action plan in the boxes
The office of federal Housing, Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen declined our interview requests, instead referring us to a published statement. on Twitter.
“We thank the CRRF for its important report, and we will carefully consider its recommendations,” it says.
Minister Hussen also recalls that the National Plan to Combat Hate is being developed. This plan, for which consultations have been taking place since last April, is part of an anti-racism strategy launched by the Trudeau government. It will contain “measures to combat hate crimes in Canada”, we promise.
At the time these lines were written, however, the Minister’s office had not responded to questions from the To have to about the planned timing of its deployment.