Racism played a role in the harassment and assaults against Asian-Canadian anglers at Lake Simcoe last year, a new report states. The provincial human rights commission report was released in Markham this afternoon.
To view video from the news conference, click here.
“These incidents have had a broad impact on the Asian-Canadian community and also on the communities where they took place,” chief commissioner Barbara Hall said. “Among the impacts was a feeling of fear when fishing and feelings of not being welcome.”
Avvy Go, director of the Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic said she was pleased with the widespread condemnation of the attacks, “there are still some people who refuse to even acknowledge racism exists let alone taking steps to eliminate it.”
York Regional Police have laid charges in five of six reported incidents directed at anglers, Chief Armand La Barge said.
An undercover investigation at Lake Simcoe involved officers in plain clothes along the shore, he said.
“Within hours of initiating this project, the officers were taunted with comments by passing motorists. Comments such as ‘Go home, you’re not welcome here’,” Chief La Barge said.
“Such incidents of hate have no place in this or in any community in this country.”