B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights Meets Attorney General and Applauds Hate Crime Policy Change

Posted On 10/08/09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights Meets Attorney General and Applauds Hate Crime Policy Change

TORONTO, October 8, 2009 – Senior representatives from B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights met yesterday with Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley for an extensive and constructive meeting during which Minister Bentley outlined positive changes to the current hate crime determination policy. The policy changes will require that decisions on whether to grant the Attorney General’s consent to the laying of hate crime charges will be made within 60 days of the request submission. All requests for charges under hate crime sections of the Criminal Code will also now be brought to the Attorney General himself.

“Our League for Human Rights representatives had a very constructive meeting with Minister Bentley yesterday,” said Ruth Klein, National Director of the League. “We are very pleased to hear that the Attorney General has taken some of our concerns to heart and implemented a positive change to the policy of how hate crime determinations are made in Ontario. We hope that these changes will lead to a change for the better in hate crime prosecutions across the province.

“The policy changes implemented by the Minister will bring much-needed urgency and efficiency to how hate crime charges are laid under the Criminal Code. We are very pleased to have been able to play a role in getting that essential policy clarification.

“B’nai Brith Canada has long had a strong relationship with the Attorney General and his office. We meet frequently with the Minister to discuss, among other things, our Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents. We very much look forward to continuing to work with Minister Bentley on issues of mutual interest and concern.”

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For more information, please contact, Dan Rabkin, Communications Officer:
416-633-6224 X 140 / cell: 416-312-9173

B’nai Brith Canada has been active in Canada since 1875 as the Jewish community’s foremost human rights agency