Ontario has experienced a number of crimes motivated by hate in recent weeks, including spray-painted swastikas and pro-white signs posted in neighbourhoods.
These events have sparked a backlash too, with anti-racism signs posted in response and the store front of a nationalist newspaper graffitied.
The newspaper office was where a meeting in support of Veronica Bouchard had been planned.
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Bouchard is a 19-year-old from Durham Region who has gained a following for herself with racist online videos. She has a lot of support even within Ontario.
However, many have asked how such a young person came to have such extreme views.
Global News tried to ask the teen’s family. Neighbours said Bouchard lives with her mother, uncle and grandmother.
“We are not part of your culture, so shooo please,” said the woman who answered the door at Bouchard’s home. She refused to answer any further questions before closing the door.
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One expert suggested there’s been a general increase in hate speech in Canada recently, in part due to the “Trump” effect – months of polarizing rhetoric during the U.S. election campaign.
“Anyone else would have been charged with hate speech,” said Barbara Perry, a Professor at University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
Perry said anti-immigrant talk in Canada has also fuelled hate speech – especially online, where she says there has been an increase in activity.
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“Some newcomers just exploring (the subject) for the first time, is there a message there that’s valuable for them, so that’s a little disconcerting,” said Perry.
She also pointed out that ignoring hate speech won’t make it go away.
“You can’t ignore the elephant in the room, you have to confront it, you have to talk about it,” she added.
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Global News asked Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi for his thoughts on a solution.
“We need to employ all the tools available to us, from education and awareness,” said Naqvi.
One such tool is enforcement. In Canada, charges specifically for hate speech have to be approved by the provincial Attorney General.
In Ontario, only three such charges have been given consent in the last five years.
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“We rely on the investigation of the police,” responded Naqvi when asked whether he felt the number seemed low.
Another 14 similar charges, not requiring special approval, have been laid over the same period of time.
Out of all 17 charges, there has been one conviction, one is going to trial, and the rest have been dismissed by the court or withdrawn.
The government said they have appointed an anti-racism director to look at systemic issues.