Statistics Canada’s release Tuesday of police-reported hate crimes for 2016 shows a 3% jump from 2015 due to increased targeting of specific groups, including the Jewish community.
The Jewish community was the most targeted group in 2016, accounting for 16% of all hate crimes across Canada.
The report reveals that 221 police-reported hate crimes – 148 of which took place in Ontario – were against the Jewish community in 2016, up from 178 hate crimes in 2015. The African-Canadian community was the second-most targeted, while the Muslim community saw a decrease in incidents.
“This is, unfortunately, not shocking to learn, as the Jewish community has always been the target of antisemitic and hateful attacks – often through vandalism, graffiti and hate speech – despite making up just over 1% of the Canadian population,” said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC).
FSWC continues to track and counter antisemitism across the country, ensuring incidents are reported to local police. Most recently, FSWC fielded complaints from the public about content found in the antisemitic and hate-ridden publication Your Ward News, which eventually led to hate crime charges against the editor and publisher.
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