Toronto: July 15, 2008: The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) is dismayed by the latest manifestations of racism and religious intolerance, which took place recently in Moncton, New Brunswick. Recent incidents included attacks against Muslims and Jews and, previously, there were attacks against the Koreans and Chinese in other parts of the province.

“There is an attitude among some Canadians that this kind of behaviour is uncharacteristic of who we are and they will not tolerated,” said Dr. Ayman Al-Yassini, Executive Director of the CRRF. “While this attitude is laudable it should have become clear by now that we need to take positive and emphatic action.

“As a society, Canadians need to recognize that racism exists and it has a negative impact on not only its victims but on the entire community as well. Governments, institutions and all workplaces, as well as the community, must develop and put in place policies and programs that are reinforced in practice, and which leaves no doubt as to where we stand on racism and racial discrimination, religious intolerances and xenophobia,” said Dr. Yassini.