Voice of Muslim Business and Professionals
Voice of Muslim Business and Professionals
By Anna Mehler Paperny
TORONTO (Reuters) - A growing perception in Canada that immigration is to blame for some of the country's economic woes is fuelling a xenophobic backlash evidenced by a surge in reported hate crimes against visible minorities, advocates and community members say.
Long a nation that took pride in welcoming newcomers, Canada is facing a reckoning over a sharp rise in the number of "temporary residents" such as international students and workers in recent years. Opinion polls show a growing slice of the public believes Canada has too many immigrants, and many blame them for a worsening housing crisis and surge in the cost of living.
That appears to have contributed to a slump in popularity of Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government. A national election is due no later than October 2025 but may come sooner after the New Democratic Party this week withdrew its automatic support for the government.
Hate crimes reported by police more than doubled from 2019 to 2023, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, with 44.5% of incidents in 2023 motivated by race or ethnicity. Hate crimes can include anything from homicide and assault to mischief and public incitement of hatred.
