6. Asian Canadian Angler Inquiry Commitments

 

 

Organization

Commitments Proposed

Agreements Reached

Response/Anti-Racism Initiatives Pursued*

1

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)

  1. In the Immigration Committee’s research on best practices for creating “welcoming communities,” incorporate research on how communities can address racism and hate activity
  2. Highlight, at a conference, how some communities have dealt with incidents of racism proactively, using the Asian Canadian Angler example
  1. Will include issues relating to racism, cultural sensitivity, discrimination and hate as a component of its research, among a broad range of issues
  2. Will discuss, at a conference workshop on “welcoming communities,” how one community responded to discrimination and a hate-motivated incident, using the angler incidents as an example
  • As a member of the Police Services Advisory Committee, AMO is working with sector partners to review and respond to the Hate Crimes Community Working Group report recommendations that affect policing and victim services
         

2

City of Kawartha Lakes

  1. Join CMARD (Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination)
  2. Place a statement on the town website with respect to the incidents. Provide a strong message that racism is not tolerated
  1. Will propose CMARD to City Council
  2. Will place a statement on the town website referencing the incidents and condemning racism and discrimination
  3. Will provide a statement/editorial to Asian language media at the beginning of the fishing season, promoting Kawartha Lakes as a welcoming community, and identifying that discrimination is something that is dealt with seriously
  4. Will work with the OPP to identify the issues, and ask for greater presence in the community
  5. Will obtain information about funding for local initiatives at community agencies, potentially for initiatives involving youth
  • Kawartha Lakes City Councillor took part in the Peterborough Race Relations Committee’s press conference about the angler incidents; Mayor issued statement. The City issued press releases about the incidents
         

3

City of Peterborough

  1. Join CMARD
  2. Place a statement on the town website with respect to the incidents. Provide a strong message that racism is not tolerated
  1. Will take a report forward to Council supporting a Local Immigration Partnership Council
  • Race Relations Committee (RRC) held a press conference about the incidents·
  • City Council passed CMARD·
  • RRC established a group to address this issue through public education and activities
         

4

Village of Westport

  1. Join CMARD
  2. Place a statement on the town website with respect to the incidents. Provide a strong message that racism is not tolerated

No commitments obtained

 
         

5

Town of Georgina

  1. Join CMARD
  2. Place a statement on the town website with respect to the incidents. Provide a strong message that racism is not tolerated
  3. Establish a race relations committee
  1. Establish a race relations committee
  • Georgina Mayor issued statement condemning the incidents, met with community groups
  • Georgina Mayor met with school boards about the issue
         

6

York Regional Police Service (YRP)

The Commission and YRP discussed:

  1. Further opportunities for public education about hate crimes, particularly against Asian Canadian people
  2. Increased accessibility to police services in languages other than English or French
  1. Will integrate examples of the Asian Canadian angler incident into the public education curriculum on hate crimes, which is directed at youth
  2. Will advise schools that YRP is prepared to offer its education services on this issue
  3. Will request to speak with parent councils about the issue
  4. Has assisted the town of Georgina in the development and ongoing support of a race relations committee
  5. Will advertise through media releases and other means that people can contact the police in multiple languages to make complaints, and do not have to have experienced a crime to contact the police about a hate incident
  6. Will incorporate examples of the angler incidents into the annual officer recertification program on hate crimes
  • YRP has established a hate crimes unit and a Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau
  • YRP assigned hate crimes unit to investigate angler incidents
  • YRP established “Project Fisher,” an undercover operation ·
  • Will establish “Project Safe Shores” in Spring 2008 to increase community safety
  • YRP provides annual recertification training to all officers on hate crimes
  • Will develop brochure about the issue
  • YRP monitors hate incidents even if they do not lead to charges

*OHRC recommends refresher training on hate crimes to officers prior to fishing season

         

7

Ontario Provincial Police(OPP)

The Commission and OPP discussed:

  1. Further opportunities for public education about hate crimes, particularly against Asian Canadian people
  2. Increased accessibility to police services in languages other than English or French
  1. Will enhance hate crimes training provided to officers by having experts in hate crimes come to teach components of the criminal investigation course at the OPP academy. The Hate Crimes Unit will speak to the Ontario Police College to identify opportunities to enhance their curriculum in this area
  2. In educating youth about hate crimes and hate activity, the OPP hate crimes unit will incorporate a discussion of the angler incidents into its public education curricula. OPP will canvass schools or boards in affected areas to make them aware of the education content available
  3. Will develop a brochure, in consultation with community/police partners, around hate crimes and the angler incidents. The brochure will outline police and victim supports available. This brochure will be produced in multiple languages and made available during the 2008 fishing season
  4. Where hate incidents are reported to police and do not fit the criteria of a criminal offence (e.g. racial slurs), these incidents will be tracked and monitored through the Hate Crimes Liaison Officers and the victims referred to appropriate services
  5. Will continue to work with community partners (e.g. Peterborough Race Relations Com’ttee) around this issue and around hate crimes generally
  • Established Hate Crimes/ Extremism Unit. Assists in training of OPP officers in identification and investigation of hate crimes, collects intelligence, and provides specialized investigative support·
  • Hosts an annual conference on hate crimes for law enforcement personnel
  • Introduced the Hate Crime Liaison Officer Program to front-line OPP. 72 OPP officers will assist detachments by monitoring and investigating hate crimes·
  • Assisted the Ontario Police College in creating the Responding to Hate Crime Booklet, in response to the Hate Crime Community Working Group recommendations·
  • Assisted MCSCS in creating of a Crime Stoppers video in relation to reporting hate crime
  • Will be developing a hate crime front-line training video for OPP officers

*OHRC recommends refresher training on hate crimes to officers prior to fishing season

         

8

Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)

  1. Provide training to enforcement officers to create an understanding of racial profiling, and to know how to respond to individuals who make fallacious complaints based on race
  2. Consider if sanctions could be imposed on people who are reported as harassing anglers based on race and other Code grounds
  3. Work collectively with police to coordinate MNR enforcement presence in communities, releasing notifications about any assaults, and providing information about where to call if assaults happen
  4. Place a message on the MNR website welcoming people back to fishing season and providing a strong message with respect to discrimination, indicating that poaching/illegal fishing is not attributable to one community
  5. Work collectively with anglers' organizations and community race relations committees to engage in public education initiatives to combat assumptions about illegal fishing
  1. Will provide training to conservation officers on how to respond to racial profiling when responding to fallacious complaints based on race. Will incorporate the angler incidents as a training example. MNR will work with OHRC to provide an overview of the topic of racial profiling, even though the Commission has not heard of any complaints of racial profiling made against MNR officers
  2. MNR will work collectively with police to coordinate MNR enforcement presence in communities, particularly at the beginning of the next fishing season
  3. Will work with the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and other ministries on a communications strategy for the 2008 fishing season. MNR released the following message in the booklet containing the 2008 fishing regulations (Chinese language version only):

“We must also show similar respect towards our fellow anglers, embracing each other’s differences while participating in an activity that unites us all.”

  1. MNR will work with anglers’ organizations and community race relations committees to engage in public education initiatives to combat assumptions about illegal fishing
  • Will extend outreach activities to include anglers from all Asian Canadian communities, in addition to Chinese Canadian anglers
  • MNR has begun work with the Peterborough Race Relations Committee, and the Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission. MNR will continue to work with these groups, among others

Note: The Commission will continue to work with MNR on its anti-racism messaging

         

9

Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI)

  1. Define the ongoing leadership position that the Minister and the Ministry could take on this issue on a government corporate level with the following goals in mind:
  1. Promote and report on the government’s commitments and results with respect to the Inquiry

 

  1. Influence and support government and policy development activities to ensure that racial diversity and equity are respected and promoted in government initiatives
  2. Facilitate dialogue between those with concerns about racial profiling and private and public service providers; or support government initiatives that facilitate dialogue between those with concerns about racial profiling and private and public service providers
  3. Engage in public awareness and education activities concerning racial diversity; or support government initiatives that engage in public awareness and education activities concerning racial diversity
  1. Develop a communications strategy for release at the start of the fishing season (spring 2008), in which the incidents and reported assaults are acknowledged and condemned as a form of racism and hate activity
  2. Work to ensure that future Ministry of Citizenship immigration initiatives or joint partnerships with Citizenship and Canada include components that address racism and discriminatory barriers to integration and employment
  3. Commit to working with the Attorney General and local immigrant and settlement agencies on initiatives to combat discrimination/hate crimes
  1. The Ministry will work collaboratively within the OPS on a corporate approach including:
  1. MCI will work with other ministries identified in Inquiry in a coordinated approach to address the results with respect to the Inquiry
  2. The Ministry will continue to work at a variety of program and policy levels within its mandate to ensure that racial diversity and equity are respected both within government and with other stakeholders
  3. The Ministry has offered to initiate a dialogue with the OHRC on racial profiling to better understand the specific intention of this commitment. d. The Ministry will continue to engage in public awareness and education concerning racial diversity in the context of the Ministry’s mandate.
  1. The Ministry will work with MNR and other ministries on a communications strategy related to the incidents of racially motivated assaults.
  2. The Ministry will review its grant eligibility criteria and draft a clause promoting diversity and anti-racism in the funding criteria and the delivery of funded initiatives & will work to advance this issue with Citizenship & Immigration Canada on joint projects.
  3. Will join the Interministerial Committee on Hate Crimes. Will work with immigration & settlement agencies to examine ways to identify & support victims of discrimination & hate crimes within their existing resources
  • MCI supports a number of initiatives with the goals of increasing diversity and equality. The Commission will continue to work with MCI to incorporate activities involving anti-racism and removing barriers for people from racialized groups
         

10

Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG)

  1. Define leadership on this issue by making the implementation of the recommendations of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group Report a priority within the Ministry
  2. Make funding available on an annualized basis to support appropriate community-based services for hate crime victims. Commit to working with other Ministries on initiatives to assist victims
  3. Urge the federal government to adopt the standard definitions of “hate crimes” and “hate incidents” across all public institutions, and encourage that additional hate-motivated offences be incorporated in the Criminal Code
  4. Ensure that all Crown attorneys in all regions are trained to identify hate crimes and proceed appropriately. Use the angler incidents as a training example
  5. Commit to publicizing the progress of implementation of all Hate Crimes Working Group Report recommendations
  6. Have MAG representatives sit on community Race Relations committees, where appropriate, to understand the barriers that prevent reporting to police and accessing victim services
  7. Work with OHRC (and MCSCS) on a large-scale social marketing campaign focused on hate and bias-related incidents in everyday life (Rec. 7.1 of HCCWG report)*
  8. Work with OHRC (and MCSCS) to produce information and resources for the public on victims’ rights, and processes and procedures for reporting and responding to hate crimes in appropriate languages (Rec. 7.3 of HCCWG report)
  9. Work with the OHRC (and MCSCS) to undertake an examination of media coverage with respect to the role that can be played by media bodies to educate and sensitize the public to hate activity (Rec. 7.4 of HCCWG report)
  10. Amend O.Reg.456/96 to ensure any person convicted of a hate crime is liable, pursuant to Section 3 of the Victims’ Bill of Rights, to his or her victim for emotional distress/bodily harm resulting from the crime, and introduce legislation to provide that the Victims’ Bill of Rights ensures that all victims of hate crime are presumed to have suffered emotional distress (Rec. 6.7 of HCCWG report)
  1. MAG indicated that leadership is being taken on this issue through the creation and coordination of an interministerial committee to implement the recommendations of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group (HCCWG)
  2. Ministry staff are participating in meetings with staff from Ministry of Citizenship and Ministry of Natural Resources to respond to the Asian Anglers issue
  3. The Ministry is assessing the results and success of hate crimes initiatives to determine the appropriate scope for community based grant programs
  4. Will be training more Crown Attorneys on hate crime issues
  5. Will commit to MAG representation on community race relations committees where appropriate
  6. Will review recommendation 6.7 from the HCCWG report
  7. Will work closely with OHRC staff, where helpful, on a social marketing campaign, producing information/resources on victims’ rights, and the roles of media bodies
  • Will provide training to through a phased-in approach to victim services to raise awareness of hate victimization and improve victim services
  • Hate crime victims given priority service by court based victim services program
  • Provided $1.35 million in grants to 23 organizations for anti-hate projects. Grants completed in 2008
  • MAG included victims of hate crimes in its Victim Quick Response Program, which provides emergency and financial assistance in the immediate aftermath of a crime
  • Updated Crown prosecution policy to reflect legal developments and address the current social environment relating to hate activities

*Note: The recommendations from the HCCWG are summarized in this chart. To see the full recommendations and access the report on the Internet, please see: http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/hatecrimes/HCCWG_full.pdf

 
 

Organization

Commitments Proposed

Agreements Reached

Response/Anti-Racism Initiatives Pursued*

11

Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services(MCSCS)

  1. Recommendation 6.11 of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group report, which includes:
  • Reviewing the existing protocols for dealing with hate/bias crime and hate propaganda recommended in the Policing Standards Manual and revise these protocols within the next 12 months.
  1. Recommendation 6.12 of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group report, which includes:
  • Ensuring that each police service has dedicated hate crimes officers and officers with specialized hate crime expertise to serve as resources to the rest of the police service
  • Each service make public, on an ongoing basis, the resources it has available for responding to and investigating hate incident allegations and the easiest and most appropriate ways of obtaining access to those resources
  • Each police service make best efforts to ensure that all individuals in its local area are able to report crimes, and hate crimes or incidents in particular, in the languages in which they are most comfortable.
  1. Recommendation 6.27 of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group report, which includes:
  • Working in partnership with MAG, the Association of Chiefs of Police and the Centre for Justice Statistics to develop a mechanism for collecting statistics on hate crimes and hate incidents and submitting them to the Ministers and to the public on an annual basis
  1. Recommendation 7.1 of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group report, which includes:
  • Working with the OHRC (and MAG) on a large scale social marketing campaign focused on hate and bias-related incidents in everyday life
  1. Recommendation 7.3 of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group report, which includes:
  • Working with the OHRC (and MAG) to produce information and resources for the public on victims’ rights, and processes and procedures for reporting and responding to hate crimes in appropriate languages
  1. Recommendation 7.4 of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group report, which includes:
  • Working with the OHRC (and MAG) to undertake an examination of media coverage with respect to the role that can be played by media bodies to educate and sensitize the public to hate activity
  1. MCSCS is in the process of establishing a Police Stakeholder Working Group to further review and respond to recommendations of the HCCWG report that affect policing. The working group is expected to meet in the next month
  2. The working group will consider any proposed changes to the Ministry guidelines dealing with hate/bias crime and hate propaganda through the Policing Standards Advisory committee
  • January 2008: the Ontario Police College (OPC) developed the brochure Responding to Hate Crimes: An Ontario Police Officer’s Guide to Investigation and Prevention, which was distributed to all police officers across Ontario·
  • January 2008: the OPC released an on-line hate crime awareness module, accessible to all police services in Ontario
  • March 2008, MCSCS released a Crimestoppers hate crime awareness DVD, which will be used for outreach in the community Ontario Provincial Police introduced a Hate Crimes Liaison Officer Program to train 75 front-line OPP officers on hate crime-related matters. The program is available to municipal agencies that do not have dedicated hate crime units
  • $855,000 was available under the Safe and Vital Communities Grant to fund proposals from community agencies that focus on preventing racism and hate crimes
         

12

Ministry of Education (EDU)

  1. Develop and enhance curricula in consultation with people from Code-protected communities that will address issues of overt and systemic discrimination and provide students with the knowledge, resources and skills to recognize and confront hate and hate-related bullying (recommendation 4.2 of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group Report)
  2. Ensure that curricula for school boards in affected areas include a component on hate-related incidents and discrimination specifically pertaining to the experience of Asian Canadians and Asian Canadian anglers
  1. Will work with school boards in affected areas to develop teaching and resource materials around racism and hate activity using the angler incidents as an example.
  2. During the curriculum review process, and within discussion of discrimination and hate-related incidents, EDU will try to incorporate specific examples and expectations pertaining to Asian Canadians and the angler incidents as appropriate3
  3. Further consideration will be given to engagement of community groups in the curriculum review process
  • EDU is developing a province-wide Equity Strategy and Implementation Plan. One key component will be to provide anti-racism, anti-discrimination and cultural awareness training Courses involving equity are in development: Gender Studies, Equity Studies, World Cultures·
  • EDU is adding examples and learning expectations relating to anti-discrimination into several courses
  • Code of Conduct re-issued. Prohibits engaging in hate propaganda or other forms of behaviour motivated by bias
         

13

Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Centre - Sud

  1. Invite the OPP into schools to provide education about stereotypes, hate crimes and the angler incidents
  2. Provide training for teachers on anti-racism and anti-discrimination
  1. Will invite the OPP into schools to provide education sessions on this issue
  2. Will provide training for teachers on anti-racism and anti-discrimination ·
  • Introduced an anti-intimidation program. One component includes respect for people from different racialized groups
  • Will continue to provide support for schools around anti-racism and anti-intimidation
         

14

York Region District School Board

  1. Take part in community race relations committees
  2. Invite the York Regional Police (YRP) into schools to talk about stereotypes, hate crimes and the angler incidents, if possible, prior to year’s end
  1. Will work with boards/Ministry of Ed to develop teaching and resource materials around racism and hate activity, using the angler incidents as an example
  2. Will invite YRP into schools when possible
  • Established an Anti-Racism Education Equity Team, a Director's Race Relations Advisory Committee, and a Community Race Relations Advisory Committee
         

15

York Catholic District School Board

  1. Take part in community race relations committees
  2. Invite the YRP into schools to talk about stereotypes, hate crimes and the angler incidents
  1. Will work with boards/Ministry of Ed to develop teaching and resource materials around racism and hate activity, using the angler incidents as an example
  2. Will continue to work with the YRP in the area of hate crimes and will provide opportunities at schools to address the issue.
  • Has integrated anti-bullying into the curriculum
  • Met with Mayor of Georgina after the incidents were reported to talk about solutions
         

16

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

  1. Take part in community race relations committees
  2. Invite the OPP into schools to talk about stereotypes, hate crimes and the angler incidents
  1. Will work with boards/Ministry of Ed to develop teaching and resource materials around racism and hate activity, using the angler incidents as an example
  2. Will work with the OPP in the area of hate crimes and will provide opportunities at schools to address the issue
  • Convened an Equity and Diversity committee
  • Partnering with community groups (Peterborough Race Relations Committee, and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation) to plan a community-wide strategy for anti-racist and anti-oppression education as a result of the incidents
         

17

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board

  1. Take part in community race relations committees
  2. Invite the OPP into schools to talk about stereotypes, hate crimes and the angler incidents
  1. When developed, will implement teaching and resource materials around racism and hate activity, using the angler incidents as an example
  2. Will work with the OPP in the area of hate crimes and will provide opportunities at schools to address the issue

Developing a Diversity and Equity Policy

18

Upper Canada District School Board

  1. Take part in community race relations committees
  2. Invite the OPP into schools to talk about stereotypes, hate crimes and the angler incidents
  1. Will work with boards/Ministry of Ed to develop teaching and resource materials around racism and hate activity, using the angler incidents as an example, and will introduce this issue to the school senate
  • Supports school exercises pertaining to anti-racism and how it relates to character development
         

19

Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario

  1. Take part in community race relations committees
  2. Invite the OPP into schools to talk about stereotypes, hate crimes and the angler incidents
  1. Will work with boards/Ministry of Ed to develop teaching and resource materials around racism and hate activity, using the angler incidents as an example, and will pilot this example in an upcoming meeting with principals and VPs
  2. Will work with police in the area of hate crimes and will provide opportunities at schools to address the issue.
  • Developing an Aboriginal framework, and supports the celebration of Black History month
  • Committed to working with a variety of groups in developing resources and curriculum that address racism· “
  • [A] fundamental principle of the CDSBEO is the Gospel value which emphasizes the dignity of the human person, [which is] expressed in the...curriculum”

20

Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters(OFAH)

  1. Engage in public education initiatives to combat stereotypes about Asian Canadian anglers and clarify misunderstandings about legal and illegal fishing
  2. Issue a notice on the web site at the beginning of fishing season about the assaults, condemning racism, and identifying support services for anglers who experience discrimination or assault
  1. OFAH has facilitated contact between the Commission and the editor of Ontario Out of Doors Magazine for publication of materials related to the angler incidents
 
         

21

Ontario Chinese Anglers Association

  1. Engage in community initiatives (e.g. with the Race Relations committee of Peterborough) that
  1. Combat stereotypes that Asian Canadians are more likely to fish illegally than people in other communities
  2. Work to increase the safety and support for Asian Canadians who may be victims of discrimination and/or hate activity
  1. Will post a message on the web site about the seriousness of the incidents, and directing people where to call for help if they experience racism, assault, or harassment
 
         

22

Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)

 

OHRC will work with MAG and MCSCS and others to find ways to address the recommendations in the HCCWG report, including:

  1. Rec. 7.1:Work with MAG & MCSCS on a large scale social marketing campaign focused on hate and bias-related incidents in everyday life
  2. Rec. 7.3: Work with MAG & MCSCS to produce information and resources for the public on victims’ rights, and processes and procedures for reporting and responding to hate crimes in appropriate languages
  3. Rec. 7.4: Work with MAG & MCSCS to undertake an examination of media coverage with respect to the role that can be played by media bodies to educate and sensitize the public to hate activity
  4. Will assist MNR in delivering training on racial profiling, & in developing materials on anti-racism
  5. Will provide an editorial to OFAH for submission to Ontario Out of Doors and work with them on their message about these incidents
  6. Will provide guidance to Boards of Ed to develop case study, and provide training on racial profiling, where requested
  7. Over the 2008 fishing season, will monitor reports of any similar incidents, and will support organizations with fulfilling their commitments. Will share information on the progress throughout the year.