Hate Crimes in Canada

Black Canadians

Black Canadians make up one of the largest visible minority groups in Canada, and Blacks are the most vulnerable to racially motivated hate crimes, as shown in survey data, federal Uniform Crime Reports data, and victimization data. However, there is virtually no research on their specific experiences as victims of hate crime. Indeed, a report filed following a 2005 symposium on hate and racism in Canada noted the experiences of the Jewish community, Aboriginal peoples, and Muslims, but no specific mention was made of the Black Canadian experience.

The depth of systemic violence against Black Canadians is perhaps best epitomized by the demolition of Africville in Nova Scotia in 1970. Africville was the oldest predominantly Black community in Canada, founded by former Black slaves fleeing the United States in the midst of the American Revolutionary War. Long characterized by extreme poverty and dire living conditions, Africville was nonetheless “home” for hundreds of residents. It represented a safe haven removed from the potential racist attacks that its members confronted outside the community's boundaries. Yet the city of Halifax perceived the community to be a threat, and it was razed by bulldozer with little or no compensation to those who had made their lives there.

First Nations

The preceding extreme case of the razing of Africville is indicative of the disregard that often frames racist actions—including violence—against Black Canadians. Similarly, First Nations people suffer as a result of the devalued status of their humanity. In the infamous “starlight tours,” for example, First Nations men have allegedly been picked up by police in the cold of winter and deposited in remote areas to die of exposure.

Aboriginal people become especially vulnerable to victimization when they challenge the mainstream. Specifically, rights claims have triggered hostile and frequently violent reprisals from what might loosely be called an anti-Indian movement. This has been readily apparent in contexts such as the conflict over lobster fishing in the Burnt Church area. Here, Mik'Maq efforts to practice lobster fishing—a right ceded to them by the federal government—were met with violence from lobster fishers and other community members.

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