More Hate

Crimes against Canadians

At the end of May, Toronto police issued a controversial report on hate crimes committed during 2009. The crimes ranged from mischief and hate speech (which is against the law in Canada) to attempted murder. Among the victim categories were teachers, feminists, infidels, police, Nazis, pedophiles, and one "Non Jewish Shikse." 

The report sparked outrage from Jewish groups, which argued that the authorities were applying hate crimes law beyond its original scope. "If one were to follow the police logic on this to its ultimate conclusion," says Bernie Farber, head of the Canadian Jewish Congress, "I suppose you can say that if somebody hates lawyers and commits crimes against a lawyer, it's a hate crime against lawyers."