Chapter 10

Human Rights Law and Hate Crimes in Canada

• Both federal and provincial human rights law in Canada prohibits hate propaganda and discrimination in various aspects of life, such as employment, property leasing and sale, public accommodation, services, and membership in labor unions and professional associations.
• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which superseded the Canadian Bill of Rights in 1982, guarantees fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, legal rights, equality rights, official bilingualism, and multicultural character of Canada.
• Hate crimes in Canada are reported by police and approximately 1,167 criminal incidents motivated by hate were reported in 2013, with 51% motivated by race or ethnic group hatred, 28% by religious hatred, and 16% by sexual orientation hatred.
• Black populations were the most frequently targeted (22%) in race or ethnicity-motivated hate crimes in 2013, while Jewish populations were the most common target (16%) in religion-motivated hate crimes.
• 40% of police-reported hate crimes in 2013 involved violent offences, such as assault, threats, and criminal harassment, and the number of violent hate crimes increased by 4% from the previous year.
• Hate crimes are prejudice-motivated crimes, often violent, targeting victims based on their membership or perceived membership in certain social groups such as ethnicity, disability, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
• The federal government amended the Criminal Code in 1996 to strengthen sentencing for hate-motivated offences, prompting community discussion and raising awareness of hate crime issues.
• Social workers are using innovative anti-racist approaches emphasizing community empowerment to combat hate crimes and are involved in outreach, education, and fostering advocacy and support groups.
• Education and community work are important in preventing hate crimes and complement hate crime laws, and social workers collaborate with community organizations to promote an anti-racist perspective through various activities.
• Hate-motivated crimes need to be addressed head-on, not only by those immediately affected but by all those who oppose such acts, and a collaborative, community-based approach can help minimize the extent of hate crime activity and strengthen the resolve and solidarity of its victims.
• Police-reported hate crime data reflects information reported by police services covering 99% of Canada's population, and it is crucial for understanding the prevalence and nature of hate crimes in the country.
• Human rights commissions in Canada, at both federal and provincial levels, are charged with addressing human rights abuses, but they have often been hampered by limited resources and case backlogs, leading to underreporting of discrimination cases.

Challenges in Foreign Education and Skills Recognition for Immigrants in Canada

• Canada's immigration policy historically focused on attracting highly skilled and educated individuals to contribute to the nation's economic growth.
• Many highly skilled immigrants face underemployment in Canada due to their foreign skills not being recognized or valued.
• Lack of recognition of foreign credentials and experience is a major stumbling block for immigrants in Canada.
• Immigrants often experience racism and discrimination, hindering their integration into the Canadian workforce.
• The assumption that foreign credentials are not up to Canadian standards often leads to the requirement for immigrant professionals to upgrade their education.
• The lack of recognition of prior educational achievements and work experience affects immigrant professionals emotionally and financially.
• The Government of Canada announced a $50 million investment in 2016 to develop a framework to speed up the assessment and recognition of foreign credentials.
• Advocacy is necessary to address systemic obstacles preventing immigrant professionals from contributing to Canadian society.
• Family reunification in Canada is allowed for specific members of immediate family, subject to certain conditions.
• Parents and grandparents make up a small portion of immigrants in the family class, but face extraordinarily slow processing for family reunification.
• Long delays in family reunification can have negative impacts on the health, education, and psychological well-being of family members waiting to reunite in Canada.
• The new Liberal immigration minister announced an increase in the number of applications accepted for parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada, but the demand far exceeds the cap, calling for new approaches to address the issue.

Test your knowledge of human rights law and hate crimes in Canada with this quiz. Explore the legal framework, statistics on hate crimes, targeted populations, and initiatives to combat prejudice-motivated offenses. Learn about the role of social workers, the impact of education and community work, and the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing hate crime activity.