by: lisa cordasco
the province’s human rights commissioner has launched the commission’s first-ever public inquiry to examine the rise in hate-motivated incidents in british columbia.
commissioner kasari govender said the covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in both violent and on-line attacks against marginalized groups, including asian, indigenous, black, muslim, jewish and queer and trans communities.
“since the start of the pandemic, there have been more than 1500 incidents of anti-asian racism reported in b.c. and this province continues to report the most hate-motivated incidents per capita in north america,” she said.
“in my view, hate often stems from a fear of losing power – a fear that is aggravated in times of great uncertainty.”
the inquiry will begin this fall, after the federal election. it will hear from experts and anti-racism groups, as well as individuals who have experienced incidents of hate. however, govender said the hearings will not be held in public, in order to protect those giving testimony.
the human rights commissioner expects her final report and recommendations will be delivered to the legislature one year from now, but it will not make any recommendations for changes to the criminal code, because that is federal jurisdiction.