Close X
Thursday, September 19, 2024
ADVT 
National

Hate crimes, protests, police costs surge since Middle East war: Vancouver police

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Jan, 2024 01:46 PM
  • Hate crimes, protests, police costs surge since Middle East war: Vancouver police

Vancouver Police say the Israel-Hamas war has fuelled hate crimes in the city and sparked far more protests than usual, with policing for the events costing millions. 

Police say they investigated 265 reports of hate crimes in 2023, a 31-per-cent jump from the previous year, including those related to South Asian, LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities. 

Figures released by the department show reports of antisemitism rose 62 per cent last year, with 33 out of the 47 incidents in 2023 happening after Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. 

Police say they've investigated 50 criminal offences connected to the Israel-Hamas war, including assaults against officers and obstructing police.

Insp. Jeff Neuman says the protests often draw large groups of people with opposing views and create significant volatility because of the emotions involved. 

Since the war started, the department says it has spent $2.5 million in overtime costs alone for a total of $4 million for the entire year. 

Neuman says the police budget was increased to $2 million last year to cover protests, but that was quickly surpassed after the war began. 

“The money will eventually get pulled from our larger budget, then our executive will have to approach the city manager and they’ll have to try to resolve where they can to find the future funding if this continues at this pace.” 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Jump in home sales in December

Jump in home sales in December
There was a surprise jump in home sales in December. The Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales rose 3.7 per cent from December of 2022 in what was the biggest year-over-year gain since August.  

Jump in home sales in December

Cutting off foreign students, temporary workers will hit Canadian economy: Report

Cutting off foreign students, temporary workers will hit Canadian economy: Report
The students will now have to show at least in their $20,635 account on top of their one-year tuition fees, and if they bring one family member with them, they will need to show an additional $4,000. According to Bartlett, Much of Canada's population growth -- now one of the fastest in the world -- comes from non-permanent residents, temporary foreign workers and students.  

Cutting off foreign students, temporary workers will hit Canadian economy: Report

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent to have state funeral in Ottawa

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent to have state funeral in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that the state funeral will be held in Ottawa on Jan. 28. Broadbent served as a member of Parliament for more than two decades and led the NDP for 14 years in the 1970s and 1980s.  

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent to have state funeral in Ottawa

Liberal, NDP MPs head to Jordan, West Bank to ask Palestinians how to advance peace

Liberal, NDP MPs head to Jordan, West Bank to ask Palestinians how to advance peace
Five members of Parliament are in the Middle East to hear from Palestinians about how Canada can best push for peace and human rights in the region. The group Canadian-Muslim Vote is paying for the Liberal and NDP MPs to visit the region for six days, alongside humanitarian groups.  

Liberal, NDP MPs head to Jordan, West Bank to ask Palestinians how to advance peace

High power demand due to cold snap: BC Hydro

High power demand due to cold snap: BC Hydro
BC Hydro says the extreme cold temperatures saw the province experience a record-high power demand. The public utility says in a statement it reached record demand highs on Friday night of eleven thousand three hundred megawatts.  

High power demand due to cold snap: BC Hydro

Canadians in several provinces to receive carbon price rebates today

Canadians in several provinces to receive carbon price rebates today
Canadians living in provinces where the federal carbon price is collected are expected to receive their first Climate Action Incentive rebate of the year today. The federal government says people living in provinces including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan will receive the rebate through direct bank deposit or by cheque if they have filed their income tax and benefit returns.

Canadians in several provinces to receive carbon price rebates today