Racist flyers have been distributed in Richmond, posters promoting Nazism were posted throughout New Westminster, and flyers promoting the KKK were distributed in Mission, Chilliwack and Abbotsford. People are worried and fearful. We have to do everything we can to fight against those who would bully and oppress others. That is why I am demanding that we bring back B.C.’s Human Rights Commission. Right now B.C. is the only province without one.

By John Horgan

B.C. New Democrat Leader

Over the past few months we’ve seen a rise of hate speech in B.C. communities, and not enough has been done to combat it.

Racist flyers have been distributed in Richmond, posters promoting Nazism were posted throughout New Westminster, and flyers promoting the KKK were distributed in Mission, Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

People are worried and fearful.

It is wrong for hateful and racist flyers to be delivered to our friends and neighbours. It is unacceptable and illegal for people to advocate for violence against specific peoples and communities.

We have to do everything we can to fight against those who would bully and oppress others.

That is why I am demanding that we bring back B.C.’s Human Rights Commission. Right now B.C. is the only province without one.

Human Rights Commissions are a powerful force against inequality, as they help us enforce and reinforce the inclusivity, diversity, and respect that let people feel safe in our communities.

Human Rights Commissions work to build respect for human rights into all aspects of life. They look at the roots of discrimination, stop discrimination before it happens, and raise awareness of human rights issues.

It is unfortunate that the B.C. Liberals undermined this important work by shutting the Human Rights Commission down in the first place.

New Democrats have introduced legislation three times to re-establish our Human Rights Commission, because we have always believed it is critically important to ensure that people know that the government is there to protect them against hatred and racism.

Unfortunately, the B.C. Liberals have so far refused to do the right thing and bring back the commission.

Now we are seeing racism and intolerance rise in our communities – and we are missing an important tool in the fight against those who would hurt and oppress others.

We can’t afford to wait. Every day that we sit back and do nothing, those spreading hate get bolder.

We have to join together in the face of rising hatred and intolerance, and make it clear it has no place in our communities.

At a time when people are feeling worried, unsafe, and unwelcome in their communities they want action and advocacy. There’s too much at stake to just hope for the best.

Christy Clark says the right things about fighting hatred and promoting human rights. But people don’t just want words. They want action.

If we are serious about fighting racism, hatred and intolerance in B.C. communities – it is time for the government to get busy.

We can’t allow those who are threatening their neighbours, and promoting organizations that advocate genocide, to go unchallenged.

We need to show solidarity in the face of hatred. And we need the government to send a strong message: hatred, racism and violence has no place in B.C.

We can do that by bringing back B.C.’s Human Rights Commission.