Summary of Data

Nature of Incidents by Year

There were 331 anti-Semitic incidents reported to the League for Human Rights in 1995. This represents an increase of 12.1% over the 290 incidents in 1994, and the highest number reported in 14 years of documentation.

The number of reported incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism was 80, a decrease of 13% from the 92 incidents reported last year. It is likely that the demise of such groups as the Church of the Creator, and the disarray of the Heritage Front, has contributed to this decrease in vandalism. But the decrease can also be attributed to increased prosecutions and community vigilance and education.

Despite the drop in vandalism, in 1995 anti-Semitic harassment, which includes the distribution of hate propaganda, was at its highest level. Anti-Semitic harassment rose to 251 reported incidents in 1995 from 198 in 1994, an increase of 20.8% Table 1 and Figure 1 (below) summarize the total number of anti- Semitic incidents reported to the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada over the last 14 years.

Figures 1(a), (b) and (c) present the three year total averages, and incidents of vandalism and harassment respectively.

Table 1

League for Human Rights - 1995 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents Nature of Incidents by year

Year   Vandalism  Harassment    Total
-------------------------------------
1982      19         44          63
1983      25         23          48
1984      60         66          26
1985      52         43          95
1986      23         32          55
1987      18         37          55
1988      52         60         112
1989      63        113         176
1990      60        150         210
1991      50        201         251
1992      46        150         196
1993     105        151         256
1994       9        198         290
1995      80        251         331
-------------------------------------

[Comparative graphs, Figures 1, 1(a)(b) and 1(c) omitted during transcription. knm]

Geographic Distribution of Incidents

There were 159 reported incidents of anti-Semitism this year in Toronto, up 8.1% from 146 incidents last year. Toronto is the largest city in Canada, and is also home to the largest Jewish population. Not surprisingly, anti- Semitic incidents in Toronto represented 48% of all reported incidents in 1995.

Montreal, which last year reported 55 incidents, had 52 anti- Semitic cases in 1995 (15.7% of the total), while Ottawa figures remained consistent in 1995 with 37 reported cases (11.2%), 36 in 1994.

Last year the Audit reported an appreciable increase in reported incidents in smaller communities in Ontario, other than Toronto and Ottawa. The 28 incidents in 1994 represented a 40% increase over the year before, and this year there were 29 anti-Semitic incidents in these regions, 8.8% of the total number of reported incidents in Canada. It is clear that as police hate crimes units clamp down on hate and bias crimes in the cities, hate groups have increased their recruitment activity in regional communities, such as Pickering, Brampton, Oakville, St. Catharines and the Niagara region.

Winnipeg reported 14 incidents, consistent with the number of reported cases of anti-Semitism over the last four years, and 4.2% of all incidents. However, a significant increase in reported incidents occurred in the western provinces in 1995. The total in Alberta and Saskatchewan was 13 in 1995, up from 2 reported cases in 1994; and the number of reported incidents in British Columbia jumped from 5 in 1994 to 23 in 1995, representing 6.9% of the total number in Canada.

It is important to note that it is likely this dramatic jump is due to two factors: there is indeed evidence that hate mongering activity has increased in the west, as will be elaborated below; but there has also been a strengthening of the B'nai Brith networks in the west, with a new lodge in Victoria, League leadership in Vancouver and Calgary, and stronger connections with other anti-racist groups who share information and intelligence, thereby increasing the likelihood of reporting when incidents occur.

Figure 2 (below) presents a summary of the 1995 data by region. Table 2 provides a more detailed breakdown of the data, indicating the specific nature of the reported incidents.

Table 2.
=========================================================
          GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF INCIDENTS
          Vandalism Harassment Threats Assaults 1995 1994
=========================================================
MARITIMES                3                         3    1
QUEBEC
 Montreal    19        	16      16   	1         52   55
Other	                 1                         1    2
ONTARIO
Toronto      30        104      23   	2        159  146
Ottawa       12         20       4      1         37   36
Other         6         19       3      1         29   28
MANITOBA      6          8                        14   15
ALTA/SASK     5          7       1                13    2
B.C.          2         20       1                23    5
=========================================================
             80        198      48      5        331  290

[Continued]

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