Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Hate crimes up 37 per cent in 2020: StatCan

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Mar, 2022 10:39 AM
  • Hate crimes up 37 per cent in 2020: StatCan

OTTAWA - New data from Statistics Canada show the number of hate crimes reported to police across the country went up 37 per cent in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year.

The agency says 2,669 hate crimes were reported in 2020 — the highest number since comparable data became available in 2009.

That's even as the report shows the overall rate of police-reported crime, excluding traffic offences, dropped 10 per cent from 2019 to 2020.

Statistics Canada says police-reported hate crimes targeting race or ethnicity rose 80 per cent in 2020 compared with 2019 and accounted for the bulk of the national increase.

It says reported hate crimes targeting East or Southeast Asian people went up 301 per cent; those targeting Black people went up 92 per cent; those against Indigenous people went up 152 per cent; and those against South Asian people went up 47 per cent.

The report says the highest increases in police-reported hate crimes were in Nova Scotia (70 per cent), British Columbia (60 per cent), Saskatchewan (60 per cent), Alberta (39 per cent) and Ontario (35 per cent).

No rise was reported in Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick or the Northwest Territories, but the report notes the relatively small population counts and number of hate crimes in the territories usually make year-over-year comparisons less reliable.

Both violent and non-violent hate crimes increased compared with 2019 and contributed “fairly equally” to the overall rise in hate crimes in 2020, Statistics Canada says.

Hate crimes targeting religion declined for the third year in a row following a peak in 2017, the report says. But the 515 incidents reported in 2020 are still higher than what was recorded annually before 2017, it says.

The Jewish and Muslim populations continue to be the most common targets of religion-based hate crimes, it says.

There was a two-per-cent decrease in reported hate crimes targeting sexual orientation in 2020, but the 259 incidents reported are the second highest since comparable data became available in 2009, the agency says.

Statistics Canada says the increase in hate crimes reported in 2020 may still underestimate the number of incidents, given that not all are reported to police.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2022.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to 368

B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to 368
The Health Ministry said in a news release Friday the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has dropped to 368 from 388 Thursday, with 46 people in intensive care.

B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to 368

One killed in North Vancouver shooting: RCMP

One killed in North Vancouver shooting: RCMP
Mounties say the shooting took place Friday afternoon outside the Real Canadian Superstore on Seymour Boulevard, just north of the entrance to the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge.

One killed in North Vancouver shooting: RCMP

Pandemic anniversary reminder to be vigilant

Pandemic anniversary reminder to be vigilant
This time, the deputy chief public health officer and his chief, Dr. Theresa Tam, were there to inform Canadians of the first case of the novel coronavirus in Canada.

Pandemic anniversary reminder to be vigilant

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out
With Sept. 10 picked as the date for when the Conservative Party of Canada will have a new leader, time is ticking for prospective candidates and their teams to get into place. Those running have until April 19 to throw their hat into the ring and until June 3 to sell memberships.

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out

Businesses hurt by convoy can apply for $10K: feds

Businesses hurt by convoy can apply for $10K: feds
Fortier says small businesses have shown incredible resilience throughout the pandemic, but especially during the three weeks that anti-vaccine mandate protesters occupied the city's core.

Businesses hurt by convoy can apply for $10K: feds

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng
Following meetings in New Delhi with her Indian counterpart, Shri Piyush Goyal, Ng says the two countries will pursue an "early progress" agreement as an initial step.

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng