This booklet is a short introduction to the topics of racism, discrimination, and hate crimes in Canada. It explains what hate crimes are and provides relevant political and historical context. It is intended to give you a better understanding of how hate crimes and hate crime laws impact people in Canada. It will also equip you with the knowledge to productively discuss issues of racism, hatred, and hate crimes.
An important caveat of this booklet is that hate crimes are only one aspect of racism and discrimination in Canada today. For hate crimes to happen, there must already be hatred in society. This booklet’s opinion is that hatred can only be eliminated through social justice, education, and the strength of communities. Hate crime laws only serve to punish offenders, compensate victims, or act as a deterrent to hateful actions. On their own, they are not a solution to hatred but a response to it. We cannot understand hate crimes without considering the broader context of racism and discrimination that hate crime laws are intended to address.