Federal government starts $56-million anti-racism program
Irwin Colter, Canada's Jewish Justice Minister
Last Updated Tue, 22 Mar 2005 11:45:01 EST
CBC News
OTTAWA - The federal government is going to study racial profiling and the over-representation of certain groups in the justice system. The Justice Department study disclosed Monday is part of the $56-million, five-year program "to eliminate racism from Canadian society" announced in the February budget.
The study "will examine whether race-based considerations are interfering with the principle of equality under the law," the government said.
Other parts of the program, being co-ordinated through Heritage Canada, will:
"We seek a Canada in which there will be no sanctuary for hate and no refuge for racism," Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said in a news release.
- Collect information on crimes and incidents motivated by hate.
- Set up a tip line to collect information on internet-based hate crime.
- Work with police so they can better serve ethnic communities.
- Strengthen the connections between federal institutions and ethnic groups.
- Help victims of hate crimes.
A survey released Sunday suggested four million Canadian adults reported they had been the victims of racism.
- FROM MARCH 20, 2005: 1 in 6 people subjected to racism: report
"Many Canadians still experience racism and discrimination in their daily lives," said Raymond Chan, minister of state for multiculturalism.
Bookmarks