Ottawa police have reported a slight decline in hate crimes for 2024, with 461 total incidents—351 criminal and 116 hate-motivated—compared to 487 in the previous year, marking a 4% decrease. While this reduction may appear promising, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has cautioned that hate crimes are often underreported, and the actual number of such incidents may be much higher.
Among the 116 hate-motivated incidents investigated in 2024, OPS charged 54 individuals with 190 criminal offenses, including one formal hate crime charge under the Criminal Code of Canada for public incitement of hatred. Additionally, seven youths were issued warnings. The most common offenses involved mischief to property and threats, followed by assault, harassing communication, and assault causing bodily harm.
The data reveals a disturbing pattern of specific groups being disproportionately targeted. Jewish individuals once again topped the list of victims, with 113 reported incidents. Other affected communities include 2SLGBTQ+ individuals (54 reported incidents), Black people (54 incidents), Muslims (18 incidents), and Chinese people (18 incidents). These groups are identified by Statistics Canada’s criteria for hate crime reporting.
Despite the decrease in reported hate crimes, Jewish individuals continued to be the most victimized group in Ottawa in 2024, a trend that mirrors the sharp 19.5% increase in hate crimes against Jews observed in 2023 compared to 2022.
OPS has underscored the challenge of accurately capturing the scale of hate crimes, with many going unreported due to fear, stigma, or distrust in the system. The relatively low number of hate-motivated incidents reported may not fully reflect the extent of prejudice and violence experienced by marginalized communities in the city.
Ottawa police continue to investigate these crimes, urging victims to report incidents and help authorities in their efforts to combat hate and ensure public safety for all citizens, regardless of their race, religion, or identity.