Data released by Statistics Canada shows that just over half of all police-reported hate crimes in 2010 were motivated by race or ethnicity. One-third of these crimes were violent in nature. The second and third most common factors were religion and sexual orientation. Overall, the data reveals that hate crimes declined in 2010 when compared with recent years.
Police-reported hate crimes are criminal acts that are determined by police as motivated by hatred towards an identifiable group by race, colour, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, language, sex, age, mental or physical disability, or other factors.
Ontario recorded the highest number of hate crimes in Canada. Based on available data, eight crimes were reported as motivated by mental or physical disability and the vast majority (71 per cent) was violent.
Fluctuations in hate crime rates may be influenced by changes in local police practices as well as reporting from victims. Statistics Canada cautions that the number of crimes reported likely undercounts the number of hate crimes committed. Other data suggests that only one third of hate crimes are reported to police.
For the full report, please visit the Statistics Canada website atwww.statcan.gc.ca.