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Understanding Hate

Hate, racism, and Islamophobia exist. Hate affects you and your families.

These incidents affect your community. Facing or seeing racism and Islamophobia is hurtful and may lead to trauma. If you have experienced any form of racism and Islamophobia, you are not alone. We are here to help.

Take Action!

The first step in stopping hate is speaking up. Don’t hesitate to report an incident you believe is motivated by hate.

Help create long-term change in preventing hate.

Report Now

Hate Has Many Forms

Hate-motivated crimesCriminal acts with an element of hate, based in race, religion, ethnicity, etc.

Examples include:

People shouting, “You are terrorists,” or your neighbour saying, “I hate immigrants,” or someone unleashing dogs near Muslims, etc.

Discrimination
Unequal treatment in employment, housing, contracts, etc., because of race, religion, gender, etc.

An example of this is:

A person asking a neighbour or employee, “but where are you really from?”

Hate crimesCriminal offenses (promoting genocide, public incitement, and hatred) against an identifiable minority group.

The Criminal Code also includes three specific offences that are listed under the rubric of hate propaganda:

Section 318(1) Advocating Genocide (i.e. the intent to destroy in whole or in part, any identifiable group)

Section 319 (1) Public Incitement of Hatred (i.e. communication in public that is likely to lead to a breach of the peace

Section 319 (2) Wilful Promotion of Hatred (communicating in a public place, including words spoken or written or recorded electronically or electro-magnetically or otherwise, and gestures, signs or other visible representations).

Under S319, no charges can be laid for alleged offences without the consent of the provincial Attorney General.

The mischief section, 430, covers hate-motivated mischief and religious property in subsection 4.1.

Hate incidentsActs motivated by racism, xenophobia, or Islamophobia with an aim to harass and create fear and anxiety among victims.

Examples include:

People shouting, “You are terrorists,” or your neighbour saying, “I hate immigrants,” or someone unleashing dogs near Muslims, etc.

MicroaggressionsMicroaggressions are insults expressed as everyday comments and behaviours that come from racial, gender, and cultural prejudices.

An example of this is:

A person asking a neighbour or employee, “but where are you really from?”

Hate speechHate speech happens verbally, online, or in print messaging and encourages hatred against an identifiable minority group.

Such messages may lead to threats or acts of personal or property harm against targeted groups.

Examples include:

"Punish a Muslim Day" campaign, racist tweets, etc.

Definitions of types of hate

Racism

It is discrimination on the basis of race, skin colour, or ethnicity.

Xenophobia

It is the dislike or fear of people, immigrants, or visitors from countries other than your own.

Islamophobia

It is close-minded prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims that leads to exclusion, discrimination, and in extreme cases, acts of violence against Muslims or those perceived as Muslims by individuals, the state, and institutions.

Why Report?

1) Report to Seek Support

We know facing hate is very painful. It makes you feel fear. We have help and supports available for you.

2) Report to Educate

Recognizing hate and creating awareness about hate can help counter it. The more we report hate, the better we understand how it impacts communities.

3) Report to Prevent

When you report, we can collect the best evidence to demand that elected officials to make a change. The first step in stopping hate is speaking up; don’t hesitate to report an incident you believe is motivated by hate. You could be helping to create long-term change in preventing hate.