Federal ombudsperson releases study on responses to hate crime
Good morning, Bon matin
Today on Human Rights Day, we pause to reflect on the fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to all people, and the ongoing work required to uphold them. As we gather, I want to acknowledge that we are on the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people who have cared for this land for since time immemorial. We honour the deep history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples to this land and recognize the injustices they have endured, including state-perpetrated hate crimes and systemic violations of human rights.
In the spirit of reconciliation and human rights, our report emphasizes the urgent need to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the 230 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Additionally, we call for measures to counter the denial of the harm caused by the Indian Residential School system.
As we commemorate Human Rights Day, let this acknowledgement serve as a reminder of our collective responsibility to confront hate, uphold justice, and work toward a future where all people and communities can live with dignity and safety.
Thank you all for joining us today as we release our report on Strengthening Access to Justice for Victims of Hate Crime in Canada. I’m proud to be standing with Mariam Musse, our policy lead, who led this project with support from Aisling McCoy.
And I am very happy to share the stage with other Canadian leaders working hard to prevent and reduce hate in all its forms: Mohammed Hashim, Executive Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, and earlier we were joined by Ami Wise, representing Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.
The Office of the Federal Ombudsperson has a mandate to improve access to federal programs and services for victims of crime, help policymakers understand systemic issues that negatively affect survivors, and ensure the quasi-constitutional provisions in the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights are upheld.
Why this, why now? Hate crimes reported to police in Canada are at the highest levels we have seen. Still, we know that most people affected already experience discrimination and do not report to police because of mistrust, fear, they don’t believe it will help, and they want to avoid further stigma on themselves and their community. When the justice system fails survivors consistently, it validates the hate and feeling of exclusion. We’re here today because we believe that can change.
Mariam Musse, who leads our policy team, will provide more context on our study.
Mariam Musse
Thank you for coming and thank you, Dr. Roebuck, for your commitment to show federal leadership to address hate.
The findings of this report are based on a mixed methods approach, including survey responses from 187 police and victim service organizations representing a diverse range of urban, rural, and remote communities. We interviewed academic partners and community leaders and reviewed existing research on the needs of survivors, statistical trends, and legislative options. The report includes a case study, offering insight into the long-term and wider impact of hate crime incidents on victims and their communities. We conclude with recommendations and a list of resources we identified throughout the study, including toolkits, practice guides and online reporting apps.
We started before the Online Harms Act was introduced, so we were able to ask for feedback on measures proposed in Bill C-63.
This is what we heard:
- First, underreporting to police remains a significant barrier. Victims of hate crime face immense challenges in coming forward. Fear of retaliation, systemic racism, and mistrust of law enforcement discourage many from reporting. When reports are made, police in our study estimated that only 35% of victims access the support services they need. The disconnect between reporting and support highlights the lack of a cohesive system to guide victims from incident to resolution. Third-party reporting through organizations or victim services is a promising practice for gathering more accurate statistics, reporting to police and making referrals.
- Second, we need specialized resources for survivors of hate crime. Only 28% of police respondents said their police service has a dedicated hate crime unit. Nearly half of those units are staffed by just one officer. We heard that hate crime units have greater access to specialized training on recognizing and investigating hate crime and are better equipped to conduct meaningful community outreach and education.
- Third, we need a clear definition of hate crime in the Criminal Code to improve investigations. Police reported difficulty navigating inconsistent definitions, distinguishing hate speech from freedom of expression, and knowing how to assess motivation for hate crime. Perpetrators of online hate are often shielded by anonymity and enabled by platforms that lack accountability mechanisms.
- Fourth, there is a pressing need for improved training across all sectors. Police wanted practical training on hate crime investigation techniques, since most officers have limited experience with cases. Police recommended hybrid learning opportunities and inter-agency workshops led by experienced hate crime units. Victim service organization also want specialized training but struggle with funding and resource constraints.
- Finally, there were mixed responses to proposed legislative reforms. There was strong support for a standalone hate crime offence as proposed in Bill C-63. 77% of police and 82% of victim services said it would be helpful or very helpful, but that it would require investment in training to be effective. Respondents were less supportive of peace bonds and felt that requirements for Attorney General consent would introduce barriers to timely prosecution.
I’ll invite Dr. Roebuck back to speak to the recommendations.
Benjamin Roebuck
Canada has to protect its people from violence that targets who we are. This report is a call to action. We make 13 recommendations to improve responses to hate crime.
The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights needs to be strengthened and has to play a central role in Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate. Victims of crime need enforceable rights to information, participation, and protection. This is even more critical for groups that mistrust the criminal justice system.
We need investment in prevention and training, and better tools for tracking hate crime.
We need to hold large multinational corporations accountable for hate facilitated through their online products, so the lives of people in Canada are prioritized over profit.
We need to uproot hate in Canada by taking action on recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
And we need a clear definition of hate in the Criminal Code to protect survivors and protect our freedom of speech.
Everyone in Canada deserves to be safe and have access justice – no matter who they love, how they look, where they come from, the language they speak, or the faith they follow. Everyone matters, and everyone belongs.
Thank you, merci.
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