Notable Canadian Hate Crime Cases

Understanding how Canadian courts interpret and apply hate-crime provisions requires accessible, well-organized case law. To support this work, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), in partnership with Western University’s Faculty of Law, developed Hate Indicators: A Canadian Hate Crime Case Law Research Tool.

The tool draws on 116 cases decided between 2007 and 2023 in which courts considered subsection 718.2(a)(i) of Canada’s Criminal Code, which requires judges to assess whether an offence was motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate. By bringing these hate-crime sentencing decisions together in one searchable space, this tool intends to facilitate research exploring the factors that shape how hate motivation is identified, evaluated, and reflected in sentencing outcomes across jurisdictions. Please consider using this tool when reviewing the following hate crime-related cases.

Notable Canadian Hate Crime Cases

Abrams v. North Shore Free Press Ltd. and Collins (No. 3) (1999), 33 C.H.R.R. D/435 (B.C. Tribunal)

Canadian Jewish Congress v. North Shore Free Press Ltd. and Collins (No. 7) (1997), 30 C.H.R.R. D/5 (B.C. Tribunal)

Khaki, Elterman, Gill & Canadian Human Rights Commission v. Canadian Liberty Net (1993), 22 C.H.R.R. D/347

Nealy et al. v. Johnston et al. (1989), 10 C.H.R.R. D/6450 (C.H.R.T.)

R v Abdelhaleem, 2011 ONSC 1428, [2011] OJ No 6691.

R v Ahmad, 2010 ONSC 5874, [2010] OJ No 6372.

R. v. Arsenault [2000] O.J. No. 2179 (Ct. J.)

R. v. Balaram-Sivaram [2019] O.J. No. 4999

R. v. Cameron [2002] O.J. No. 899 (Sup. Ct.)

R v Chand, 2010 ONSC 6538, [2010] OJ No 6370.

R. v. Cornakovic [2004] O.J. No. 4081 (Sup. Ct.)

R. v. Creaghan & Lyle, [1991] AJ No. 560 (QL) (Alta. CA)

R. v. Defoe, [2018] O.J. No. 3858

R. v. Demelo [1999] O.J. No. 3952

R. v. Demers [2006] A.J. No. 1204

R. v. D.M. (Ont. C.A.), [1990] O.J. No. 2206

R v Doreen, 2010 ONCJ 491.

R. v. D.R. [2006] O.J. No. 546 (C.A.)

R. v. Froebrich [1999] O.J. No. 1556

R v Gholamrez-azdehshirazi, 2008 ABPC 198, 451 AR 326.

R v. H.J.J. [1985] OJ No. 2008 (QL)

R. v. Hockin, [2005] O.J. No. 3893

R. v. Howald, [1998] O.J. No. 3121

R. v. Ingram (1977), 35 CCC (2d) 376 (Ont. CA)

R. v. Jimenez, [1999] OJ No. 1847 (QL) (Ont. Gen. Div.)

R. v. J.V. [2006] O.J. No. 2392

R. v. Karalapillai [1995] O.J. No. 2105

R. v. L.C.R. [1999] A.J. No. 569 (Q.B.)

R. v. Lovett, [2003] O.J. No. 4303

R. v. Miloszewski et al, [1999] B.C.J. No. 2710

R. v. Mitchell [1996] A.J. No. 1176

R. v. Nash [2002] O.J. No. 3843

R. v. O'Neil [2005] O.J. No. 3999

R v Sargeant, [1974] 60 Cr. App. R. 74

R. v. Sockalingam [2001] O.J. No. 5999 (Ct. J.)

R v Soles, [1998] OJ No 5061, 86 OTC 4, 40 WCB (2d) 343, [1998] OJ No 5061

R. v. T.A., [1978] O.J. No. 1173

R. v. Taylor, [2015] O.J. No. 6919

R. v. T.M. [2003] O.J. No. 4120 (Ct. J.)

R. v. Trusler [2006] O.J. No. 4303 (Ct. J.)

R. v. Young, [1991] OJ No. 2210