Online comments targeting race, ethnicity could be ‘hate crime’: Nunavut RCMP

Recent news releases met with ‘hateful’ and ‘threatening’ responses, police say

A Nunavut RCMP Facebook post is asking users not to leave comments targeting people’s race and ethnicity following what it describes as “hateful and/or threatening responses” to recent news releases. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

By Jeff Pelletier - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nunavut RCMP are urging people to watch what they say online.

In a Facebook post Monday, the RCMP said they were aware of “a number of hateful and/or threatening responses” to recent news releases that were posted.

“The Iqaluit RCMP would like to remind everyone to be respectful when making comments, and not to target individuals or groups based upon ethnicity, national origin, race, colour or any other similar factors,” the post reads.

It said such comments “may be considered a hate crime.”

Cpl. George Henrie, Nunavut RCMP’s media spokesperson, declined to specify which news releases were the subject of those comments.

“There’s been a few posts that we’ve noticed on our Facebook page, which we felt were inappropriate and did target a specific group,” he said in a phone interview.

“We became aware of the comments by the public, and it’s something we took action on immediately.”

Henrie said the RCMP has disabled readers’ ability to comment on some of its Facebook posts, and will decide whether to allow comments on a “case by case” basis.

He said he is not aware of any active investigations into hate speech-related crimes by the RCMP.

Over the weekend, the RCMP posted on Facebook that investigators were seeking the public’s help to locate a missing woman in Iqaluit. The post generated tips on her whereabouts and she was found safe, Henrie said.

“Using social media is a great tool, because the person might not be aware that their family is worried for them, looking for them,” he said.

Henrie added, “When we ask for the public’s assistance, we want people to be respectful and understand that there’s certain things that, as a society, we should not tolerate, and I believe that it’s everyone’s job to understand that.”

Canada’s Criminal Code prohibits hate speech against “identifiable groups,” which are members of the public “distinguished by colour, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or mental or physical disability.”

Section 319 identifies “public incitement of hatred” and “wilful promotion of hatred” as crimes, punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.

“The RCMP would like to remind the public that individuals or groups based upon ethnicity, national origin, race, colour, or any other similar factors should not be targeted as a result of the conduct of an individual,” the RCMP’s Facebook post on Monday said.

 

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(39) Comments:

  1. Posted by Truestory on

    “Rights” are being taken away. Slowly but, surely.

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    • Posted by racism is a right? on

      Since when was it legal to spew hate stuff towards someone? Are you suggesting that you would like to continue to chirp other races and nothing be done about it?

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      • Posted by Ken on

        People need to be held accountable for attacking people online, keyboard warriors think they can say anything, lies and racism and think it’s ok.
        I find there is so much hate today and misinformation, so much influence from the US, I’m glad there are consequences for this.

  2. Posted by Curious on

    But what about those who came to Nunavut Community to work , those who hate Inuit ways of life, because there is this someone who works for the GN who is so against Inuit culture and claims that Inuit shouldn’t hunt for a living, just because you woke for GN with high paying job it doesn’t mean you can judge and hate inuit culture, without hunting for living, you sure wouldn’t live in the community you live in, just for a job, without hunting animals, the time you live wouldn’t exist because that’s how Inuit survived. Leave your hateful thoughts to yourself and focus On your job.

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    • Posted by Ned Flanders on

      Inuit hating on other Inuit. True.
      “Did you hear? He’s/She’s getting married to a Inuk from…(Gasp!!)… over there.”
      Ignorance breeds fear and hatred.
      Rise above.🌟
      We point elsewhere about racism and prejudice everywhere except at each other, in denial. Right in front of God.😳

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  3. Posted by racism is a right? on

    Hating someone’s way of life, is not a crime. and disagreeing with hunting, is also not a crime. It is no different than you disagreeing with how they do their job or disagreeing with what they believe.

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    • Posted by Punching Down on

      If you’re here to punch down on the Inuit way of life maybe you should consider leaving. I’m not saying that to be aggressive, but you have to understand the trauma that the Inuit have faced. It’s very ignorant and disrespectful to move here and hate on the Inuit way of life given the history of this territory.

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      • Posted by Off track on

        It is ignorant, but it’s not illegal.

        ps, thanks for the moral lecture.

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        • Posted by You’re Welcome on

          You’re welcome. There’s plenty more where that come from if you lack morals or perspective.

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            • Posted by You’re Welcome on

              Are you sure about that?

              You seem to think it’s ok to come to someone’s home and hate on their way of life. Doesn’t seem very good to me?

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      • Posted by Mephistopheles on

        It’s not just “those people” that hate on Inuit. We, as Inuit, have alot of animosity towards each other too.
        My sister & her husband got work in Iqaluit and could not stay. They were constantly cussed and told to “go back” and that they didn’t belong there.
        By other Inuit.
        A hamlet local radio station in Nunavut had to be taken over because Inuit were uttering death threats on air.
        Cause…y’know. Inuit are so friendly.

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        • Posted by Bluffy St. Marie on

          I believe they call that Tunnganarniq, being open and inclusive… or, is it Inuuqatigiitsiarniq, respect and care for other people?

          Someone help me out?

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      • Posted by racism is a right? on

        I did not punch down on anyone. I pointed out the legality of someone disagreeing with something. In this case, understanding trauma is not relevant. We are discussing law in this case, and nothing more.

        Your argument is for another conversation Punching Down.

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  4. Posted by Qujannamiik on

    I only periodically check social media so I wasn’t aware what was going on and what people were so hyped up about.

    But I wanted to thank the RCMP for utilizing social media as tool to ensure people were found safe. Qujannamiik.

    I have a child with mental illness, whom is very vulnerable to society, and my goodness, when they were in their pre-teens and teenage-hood, I was often very frantically looking for her everywhere. Sometimes even missing for five days straight, and each and every time I called the RCMP for help, they were there helping me look for her. I would feel so alone, scared to find a dead body and it would always feel reassuring the RCMP being responsive to my requests for help. It is tremondously valuable to have that kind of support. I am glad social media can help shorten the time to look for missing persons and save RCMP staffing resources.

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  5. Posted by S on

    It would be better for the community and society-at-large if we focused on enforcement of criminal activity by those who would take away peoples’ freedoms – whether of speech or to a peaceful life.

    There is no shortage of corruption in government and NGO’s and no shortage of physical violence in Nunavut and elsewhere.

    If the RCMP have time to monitor differences of opinion on social media such as Facebook or the news and comments here at Nunatsiaq, then we should expect that all the real crimes have been solved and the real criminals put to bed.

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    • Posted by Hate Leads to Crime on

      Hate speech often leads to violent crime. One day it’s people using slurs on FB, next day it’s someone getting assaulted just for walking down the street, or someone’s business gets vandalized because of their race.

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    • Posted by Really? on

      So should we stop enforcing traffic laws and only get RCMP involved for deadly crashes?

      All laws should be enforced. More than one thing can happen at once.

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  6. Posted by Muah on

    If someone had done something illegal, they would have been arrested already.

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  7. Posted by Tatanniq Idlout on

    Well, it’s about time something like this has been raised as an issue. I’m not sure why it didn’t happen a long time ago, when Rantin’ and Ravin’ was a site people could hate on. Inuit have experienced so much racism and discrimination since the mass influx of non-Inuit. I remember it clearly with cab drivers, restaurants and bars.

    Now with an influx of different cultures, who each bring their own beauty for the most part, now there is a race war going on, and it’s disgusting. I enjoy the Filipinos and the black people who have come. It is no longer two cultures, with one dominating the other. I enjoy the culture they bring, the sunshine they have shared, and the kindness, through giving and helping that we all get to enjoy now.

    There are a few, of course, like with anywhere, who are neither kind, nor good, and that goes for all the cultures in Nunavut. A lot of the black people I have met have learned more Inuktitut in the short time they have been here than others who have lived here for 10, 20, 30 years who don’t even try.

    I’m embarrassed when Inuit speak poorly about other cultures. Celebrate them. Yes, they’re here to make money, but yes, they are also making this home. We need to welcome them; not shun or be racist towards them. Just because we have been treated poorly in the past, doesn’t mean we have to bring that hatred towards others.

    Be kind to each other. Be proud of yourselves as Inuit, and stop hating others.

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    • Posted by West Nunavut on

      Tatanniq, I like your letter and kudos to people of other cultures who have learned some of
      the Inuit language in your community.
      Certain local people over in Kitikmeot have been in charge of INUKTITUT for over 30 years and
      it is dying out so fast.
      Some non Inuit people have been ripped off, they pay people to teach them and the people
      don’t teach them the language.

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  8. Posted by Would or should on

    Anyone who saw those comments witnessed hate speech. Hate speech is illegal. This article is to remind people of that.

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  9. Posted by Don’t Inuit get this too? on

    I have taken a break from this paper as the comments on any Inuk article is followed by nothing but hate! If the paper continues to allow it, ain’t that contributing to hate crimes too RCMP?

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    • Posted by Mit on

      Racist post not allow here sometimes distasteful comment but never see racist comment. Facebook is where u find the real nasty raciest stuff good job rcmp like Jon taffer say on bar rescue shut it down!

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    • Posted by Rupert Pupkin on

      There is a lot of disrespect and subtle aggression pointed at Inuit in the comments section of this paper, that is true. At the same time there is plenty of the same directed back at ‘outsiders,’ ‘southerners,’ ‘transients’ and ‘settlers’ as well. These are the growing pains of a pluralistic, mutli-racial society.

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  10. Posted by Go Figure on

    Hate is a strange thing—it often says more about the person spreading it than the one receiving it.

    I’ve seen my share of racism in Nunavut and across Canada, but here, it tends to be more vocal, especially when alcohol, the absence of drugs, and Facebook come into play. It’s almost as if some people wait for an excuse to unleash their frustration on others. If someone does their job well, they’re hated on. If they don’t get hired, they’re hated on. If they lose a loved one, they’re accused of cursing them.

    But what strikes me the most is how different people are when they’re face to face versus behind a screen. Facebook warriors say things online that they wouldn’t dare say in person. And it makes me wonder—if there were no Facebook, no alcohol, no drugs, would they still have the courage to spread that same hate in real life? Or would they be forced to actually sit with their emotions, reflect, and find healthier ways to deal with whatever they’re going through?

    Hate is easy. But facing yourself, your struggles, and your emotions—that takes real strength. Maybe that’s what’s missing.

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    • Posted by John WP Murphy on

      And THAT is why I disagree with anonymity in these discussions. If you really believe in what you say and its accuracy, have the balls to identify yourself; otherwise, don’t expect me to take you seriously.

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      • Posted by Go Figure on

        Paul, I get where you’re coming from, but I don’t have the same freedom as you to use my real name in a public forum. You’re retired and don’t have to answer to anyone, whereas I hold a public office, and what I say—even as my own opinion—can reflect on me professionally.

        It’s not about hiding; it’s about navigating the responsibilities that come with my role. I still value open discussions, but I have to be mindful of how and where I engage. Hope that makes sense.

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        • Posted by John WP Murphy on

          I hear you, Go Figure. But then you have said nothing in your post here that offends me or threatens your job professionally (unless even talking to me could do that, LOL). So why the non de plume when posting this?

  11. Posted by hate crime? on

    PARDON ME ? actually i have a charter of rights that protect my freedom of speech. and yes , there is limitations to that. But for an Opinion … we are accelerating to total Communist Government . at this point i would welcome America with welcome arms, at least i would then have 1st and 2nd amendment .

    beware of WEF

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  12. Posted by Umingmak on

    The amount of racist vitriol spewed on the Iqaluit Rant & Rave Facebook group is despicable, and most of it comes from the same 4-5 people. The admins of that page need to step up and ban those people.

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  13. Posted by John WP Murphy on

    Not the admin’s responsibility for others spewing their hate. If you find someone spewing hate or breaking any law, YOU have a responsibility to report it to the RCMP. The RCMP can track the post and find the offender if it falls into the crime definition.

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  14. Posted by Place of Much Hate on

    Iqaluit is the hub for hatred in Nunavut. There is so much animosity towards each other, inuk versus inuk, inuk vs southerners. You can see it just by the comments on here.

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  15. Posted by DoWeMatter? on

    Targeting race? What about refusing to provide assistance to a particular ethnicity? The Inuit often face significant barriers when attempting to access federal services, frequently being shut out without an opportunity to explain. In contrast, individuals from southern regions tend to receive services promptly, whereas the Inuit may be forced to wait for up to days merely to be questioned. If federal services were to treat everyone fairly, it would likely mitigate the prevalence of hateful comments and threatening responses. Is the Government of Nunavut prioritizing southern workers over local residents, potentially enabling unfair treatment and shady tactics?

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