Race played role in Ont. attacks on Asian fishermen, inquiry concludes

A series of attacks on Asian-Canadian fishermen in Ontario last year were rooted in racism, the Ontario Human Rights Commission said in a report released Tuesday.

The commission said the anglers experienced racism in many forms, ranging from racial slurs to physical violence and the damaging of equipment, it said.

In York Region, north of Toronto, police have laid criminal charges in five of the cases.

York police Chief Armand La Barge said his police force put some Asian officers under cover, and they were taunted and told to go home.

The commission has made a number of recommendations, including developing resource materials about racism and training conservation officers on racial profiling to help them when they respond to complaints.

The commission also says the Ministry of Education will be working with various school boards to develop teaching materials on anti-racism, using the angler incidents as examples.

Police in Georgina, where many of the incidents occurred, will also launch a project this fishing season aimed at monitoring popular fishing sites for problems.

The inquiry began last November after at least eight Asian anglers were assaulted in several communities, including near Aurora, Peterborough, Kingston and Ottawa.