CANADIAN HATE CRIMES

The Extent of Hate Crimes in Canada

The Extent of Hate Crimes in Canada

Introduction

The number of hate crimes reported by police in Canada jumped 42% between 2008 and 2009, according to a study released yesterday by Statistics Canada. Canadian police reported 1,473 hate crimes in 2009, 437 more than last year. Again, the majority of cases were motivated by race or ethnicity (54%). Religion is responsible for 29% of hate crimes, and sexual orientation, 13%. Black people remain the most targeted racial group (38% of incidents motivated by race). The largest increase affects the Arabs and West Asians: crimes involving prejudices against them have doubled between 2008 and 2009, from 37 to 75. As for cases related to religion, the Jews were the target seven times out of ten.

The increase in hate crimes recorded in 2009 was concentrated in four metropolitan areas: Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge and Montreal. In 2009, the Montreal police to Statistics Canada reported 99 hate crimes, including 38 related to religion, 29 to race or ethnicity and sexual orientation 10. In fact, the increase is not as marked. These data are compiled before there is investigation, said Sergeant Ian Lafreniere, spokesman for the Montreal police. In fact, we identify 67 hate crimes in 2009, and 63 in 2008.

Discussion

For about five years, we added a variable declaration form that the police uniform to indicate if the crime is related to certain variables, including ethnicity and religion. Since this is a novelty, the police take some time to adapt (Lafontaine, 2010). Nevertheless, M.Ouimet stresses that ethnic groups are increasingly present in Canada and it is expected that this dimension appears increasingly in crime statistics.

We need to strengthen surveillance and punishment of such crimes, which in recent years it has been making more and more often against Latino immigrants. This measure does precisely that purpose, and recognize the severity of attacks on gay people who are in third place among the victims of hate crimes in Canada. The hate crime is a cancer in society, is the most brutal of intolerance, resentment and ignorance. By definition the word 'prevention' means measures and actions arranged in advance to avoid or prevent this dangerous phenomenon to reduce its effects on the population. This coupled with the legal definition of the word crime is needed as a behavior typical action or omission (typified by the law) unlawful (unlawful), guilty and punishable. Infraccional supposed conduct of criminal law, ie an act or omission typed and punishable by law. Hate crimes are criminal acts prejudicial occasion. This reason is what makes hate crimes different from other crimes. Hate crimes include acts of verbal intimidation and even physical violence or property damage. The term refers more to a type of crime, or phenomenon, that a specific crime. It is not a legal definition and not all penal systems recognize hate crimes. Hate crimes have two elements: a crime and prejudicial reason. No crime no hate crime. No reason is an ordinary crime ...