MARKHAM, Ont. — After a string of violent incidents against Asian-Canadian anglers in the summer of 2007, the Ontario Human Rights Commission confirmed Tuesday that those attacks were motivated by racism in Ontario's small towns.
The commission found that Asian-Canadians were attacked because of prevalent but baseless stereotypes about Chinese and Vietnamese anglers fishing illegally. The commission heard a number of allegations, including that Asian fishers were “raping our lakes,” but clearly stated that there is no evidence that Asians fish illegally any more than white Canadians.
That confirmed a preliminary report released last December which found that Asian-Canadians faced harassment and assaults in many fishing communities across Ontario including Lake Simcoe, Lake Huron, and the Kawarthas. In one case, the commission reported, a Chinese man had a gun pointed at his face.
Last fall, York Region Police initiated an undercover operation which found Asian-Canadian police were harassed and threatened while fishing at night.
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In response, a number of municipalities and police forces across Ontario have committed to deal with this threat to the peace and quiet of Ontario's cottage country.
The Ontario Provincial Police have agreed to expand their public education on hate crimes, and police in York Region have “Operation Safe Shores” planned for the coming season. Also, a number of school boards have committed to expanding anti-racism and anti-bullying lessons.
The Ontario government has reacted to the commission's findings by stressing the province's efforts to combat hate crimes.
“Ontario is a destination of hope throughout the world because of our vigilance against racism and violence,” said Attorney General Chris Bentley. “The Human Rights Commission's report gives voice to victims of racism by adding to our ongoing progress in preventing hate crimes through victim support, prosecutorial expertise and public education.”
The preliminary report of last December had also found that fishing season was increasingly tense in Ontario as more and more anglers were competing over what the commission called “a limited resource.” Greg Farrant, spokesperson for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, rejects that notion.
“I don't think its a result of that at all,” said Mr. Farrant. “Sometimes, certainly, anglers are a passionate bunch. Everybody needs to be a little more tolerant and just get along with each other.”
Mr. Farrant rejected the idea that fish stocks are as limited as the report implied, and said his organization's efforts would focus on making sure all anglers, regardless of background, understood the laws and regulations of Ontario.
That includes anyone caught fishing illegally, as well as anyone who thinks they've caught someone fishing illegally. Mr. Farrant emphasized that any suspicions should be brought to the authorities, not taken personally.
“Bottom line,” says Mr. Farrant, “people shouldn't be taking things in to their own hands.”
