Antisemitism makes up 53% of reported hate crimes since Israel-Hamas war began: Toronto police
CBC
Antisemitic incidents are up 211 per cent since the Israel-Hamas war began over two months ago compared to the same time period last year, Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw said Tuesday.
Demkiw rattled off new statistics about hate crime related offences in the city at the force's monthly board meeting, where he said antisemitism makes up 53 per cent of all reported hate crimes since Oct. 7.
"That's 56 of 105 total occurrences," he said.
"In terms of all hate crimes reported this year, antisemitism makes up almost 41 per cent of all these occurrences. That's 147 of 360."
There have been 37 reported hate crimes related to Arab, Muslim and Palestinian communities, the chief said, up from 14 during the same time period last year.
Demkiw also noted a rise in hate directed at the city's LGBTQ2S+ community, saying 11 hate crimes were reported since Oct. 7, a rise of eight from the same time period the year before.
Demkiw said the service remains committed to having a presence in communities impacted by hate. He told the board that police visibility is likely playing a role in deterring more crimes from being committed.
"It is almost impossible to measure what you prevent," he said.
"We know that communities feel safer for our efforts. In instances where, despite our best efforts, crimes have been committed, our dedicated teams of highly trained investigators have worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice."
Earlier this fall, Toronto police stepped up patrols, adding command posts to several parts of the city to keep communities safe from hate. The chief says these will continue for the time being, saying that outreach initiatives are making it easier for communities to access police to "report incidents of concern."
"As a result of continued collaboration with members of the community, the Toronto Police Service has determined we must deploy a command post to Friday night prayer services to mosques around the city on a rotational basis," he said.
Demkiw last provided an update on Toronto's hate crime statistics on Nov. 23, when he called the rise in tensions "staggering" and said that it is taking a toll on police resources.
Premier Wab Kinew says Manitoba will hold a public inquiry as soon as 2026 into the former Progressive Conservative government’s post-election efforts to approve an environmental licence for sand-mining company Sio Silica.
Premier Scott Moe has led the Saskatchewan Party through two straight elections, winning majority governments each time.
Eight weeks after adding a GM BrightDrop van to the fleet of his plumbing and heating business, Marty Salliss has no complaints, only praise.
Nearly half of Alberta’s Grade 6 students failed the provincewide math test in 2024, three years after the province started rolling out its new elementary school curriculum.
Toronto could get new cars on the road whose drivers will never get frustrated by gridlock — because the cars would be driving themselves.
Amidst a cost-of-living crisis, some London-area organizations say they have noticed a decline in donations this holiday season.
Prominent northern leaders have been touting the Arctic economic and security corridor as a "nation-building" project that will bring economic benefits to the two territories it straddles, but others are split on how much good will come out of it.
When the federal government tabled its 2025 budget last month, it included a proposal that tax fraud experts say is long overdue — if also a belated acknowledgement that the Canada Revenue Agency has been repeatedly duped into paying out untold millions in bogus tax refunds to scammers.
Talking with an AI chatbot can successfully convince people to change their votes and could affect the outcome of future elections, according to a new study.
While some are writing wishlists for Santa Claus, a group of Newfoundland and Labrador youth are writing their wishlist for the provincial government.
A horse owner near Stewiacke, N.S., says the current shortage of hay in the province is putting pressure on her financially.
Victoria Volkanova was remembering Jewish resilience and courage by celebrating Hanukkah on Sunday.
Winnipeggers are still digging out from this past week’s winter wallop, but the wait for roadside assistance is almost over, according to the provincial motoring association.