明报/针对华裔钓友遇袭事件，社群权益参研社(The Reference Group)已联同加拿大钓鱼运动工业联会呼吁省府马上行动，避免再有华裔钓友被袭。
社群权益参研社代表伍素屏昨日指出，与其把事件归咎于违例钓鱼，要求自然资源厅加强取缔行动，上述联会反而要求加强取缔滋扰□友的行动。她又说不论是警方、安省人权委员会，现今连带是全国性的工业联会都认为被袭钓友是合法钓鱼的。
华裔钓友遇袭的事件至今已增至12宗，省警现今已就连串事件展开深入调查，社群权益参研社日前亦与安省人权委员会主席贺珀励会面，谋求解决方案，委员会并公布就事件展开公开聆讯。
Sportfishing Industry Association Calls for Action Against Racist Attacks on Asian Canadian Anglers
The Reference Group 社群权益参研社
email contact: [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, November 30, 2007– The Reference Group joins The Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association (CSIA) in demanding that the Ontario government take concrete action to prevent further hate crimes against Asian Canadian fishermen [Please see CSIA news release below].
“Contrary to those who have trivialized the attacks and have even justified them by calling on the Ministry of Natural Resources to enforce anti-poaching regulations, a national industry association that actually represents sport fishing is calling for enforcement of anti-harassment provisions,” said Susan Eng of The Reference Group.
“Everyone, from the police to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and now the sportfishing people themselves, has accepted that the people attacked were fishing legally,” Eng said. “Perhaps our political leaders will finally let go of the red herring of poaching and start taking action to address these racist attacks.”
Two months ago, The Reference Group along with the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, the Chinese Canadian National Council and noted experts in human rights, held a media conference calling on York Regional Police to launch hate crimes investigations into a series of assaults on Asian Canadian fishermen in the Lake Simcoe area.
Since then, more such attacks have been reported to various police services across the province, including the Ontario Provincial Police which is currently investigating attacks on Asian Canadian fishermen in Westport, Hastings and Coboconk. Some of the charges are now going through the criminal courts.
The Reference Group met with Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, and helped to set up a complaints hotline at the Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, to assist people who have been attacked. The OHRC has announced a public inquiry and will be reporting in the near future.
The Reference Group is a community action group focused on equal access to the political process.
For further information, please contact:
Susan Eng, 647-988-3595
The Reference Group
Avvy Go, 416-971-9674
Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
Zanana Akande,416-482-2326
Past president, Urban Alliance on Race Relations
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For Immediate Release
November 29, 2007
Where’s the Enforcement?
Asks the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association
Peterborough, ON: The Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association (CSIA) is calling on the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to enforce the anti harassment laws under the Fish and Wildlife Act to protect all anglers who are fishing legally.
CSIA President Kim Rhodes said the members of the Association are very concerned about recent attacks against Asian-Canadian anglers in Ontario. “No angler, regardless of their race, should feel threatened while enjoying recreational fishing,” states Rhodes. “There are mechanisms in place under the Fish and Wildlife Act to ensure the safety of all anglers who are fishing legally. We feel that the proper enforcement of current laws will send a clear message that the outdoor community will not tolerate such harassment,” states Rhodes. “If that means more funding is needed to increase the presence of Conservation Officers on the front lines, then the MNR needs to address that.”
There have been reports of Asian-Canadian anglers being accosted and assaulted without having done anything to provoke the attacks. Ontario Human Rights Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall’s opinion is that the reported incidents are linked by an undercurrent of racism and she’s appealing for other victims to come forward.
“While we don’t have firsthand knowledge that there was an undercurrent of racism in the reported attacks, we do know that a strong presence by MNR law enforcement and the use of its powers to lay charges will go a long way to make all anglers feel safe on the water,” added Rhodes.
In addition to calling for stronger enforcement of current laws, the CSIA is hoping the Ontario Human Rights Inquiry will result in better communication among all anglers about the rules and regulations as they relate to the fishery. CSIA has repeatedly asked Ontario MNR to publish fishing regulation summaries in multiple languages to facilitate this.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Mike Melnik at Impact Communications at 705-750-1286 or 1-888-296-8978.
