Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre emphasized on Monday the need to address the targeting of Christians and their places of worship, vowing to combat religious-based hate crimes such as arson if elected. Poilievre expressed concern over the recent surge in church burnings, labeling them as “terrorist attacks” specifically aimed at Christians.
Highlighting the alarming statistics, Poilievre stated that approximately 100 churches have been set ablaze, indicating that Christians might be the primary victims of hate-driven violence, a fact often overlooked due to political correctness. Recent data from Statistics Canada revealed that a majority of hate crimes against religious groups in 2023 were directed towards Jews (70%) and Muslims (16%).
The report documented a significant increase in hate crimes against religions in 2023, with a total of 1,284 incidents reported, marking a 67% rise from the previous year. The surge was primarily attributed to the increased targeting of Jewish communities (900 hate crimes) and Muslim populations (211 incidents) as reported by law enforcement agencies.
Although hate crimes against Catholics spiked in 2021 following revelations related to the Kamloops Indian Residential School, subsequent years have shown a decline in such incidents. Despite this, recent events, such as the arson attack on a century-old Ukrainian Orthodox Church near Edmonton, indicate an ongoing trend of targeting Christians and their places of worship.
Media reports have highlighted multiple church arson incidents across Canada this year, including attacks on churches in Winnipeg, Newfoundland, rural Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. A report by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute revealed a significant increase in arson attacks on religious institutions between 2021 and 2023 compared to the preceding three-year period.
Poilievre has condemned the anti-Christian hate crimes and pledged to take a tough stance on such offenses, advocating for mandatory prison sentences for perpetrators, stricter laws against hate crimes, deportation of foreign criminals, and increased support for law enforcement agencies. He emphasized the right of Canadians, regardless of their faith, to worship peacefully.