City & Politics, Politics

Israel boycott may constitute hate crime

Following comments by Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney about his government taking a “zero tolerance” approach to those who boycott Israel, a spokesperson from his department has indicated the Harper government intends to use hate crime laws against organizations that promote or participate in movements like Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS). Civil liberties groups have raised the spectre of a Charter challenge, citing constitutional protections for freedom of expression, if the government proceeds with charges. [Source: CBC]