The province continues to address the adverse impact of different forms of racism and hate, including but not limited to anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Creating and supporting targeted strategies, initiatives and resources that promote anti-racism and address hate-driven behaviours

Anti-Black Racism Strategy

The Anti-Black Racism Strategy was launched with a vision to eliminate disparities in outcomes for Black Ontarians in the child welfare, education and justice sectors. The strategy targets systemic racism in policies, decisions and programs, and helps promote long-term systemic change. See Appendix for a special focus on the progress of the Anti-Black Racism Strategy.

Makwa Patrol

The Kenora Makwa Patrol is a community-driven, culturally responsive grassroots initiative that is committed to the safety of Indigenous Peoples and others in the City of Kenora, connecting them to services that support their well-being. In 2023–2024, the Makwa Patrol completed 3,025 wellness checks, provided 6,218 safe rides, and collected 18,064 needles.

Seniors Safety Line

The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility has invested $770,000 in 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 for the Seniors Safety Line (SSL), a province-wide 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, crisis and support line for seniors (or persons acting on their behalf), including Indigenous, Black and other racialized seniors, who are experiencing or at risk of abuse. In 2023–2024, almost 32,000 calls were answered.

Population-specific curriculum resources

The Ministry of Education also continues to work with communities to develop curriculum-related resources, for example, classroom resources, to promote diversity and better reflect the population of Canada.

Liberation75

Liberation75 was funded to provide Holocaust and antisemitism education resources for educators and support for students. Through this funding, 4,000 Grade 6 to 8 students attended live performances about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism and hate, and 25,000 Grade 6 to 8 students live streamed into the live performances.

Supporting community- and sector-specific needs through strong proactive and reactive actions

Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant

The government is investing $25.5 million over 2 years in the Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant program to help faith-based and cultural organizations enhance or implement measures to ensure community spaces remain safe and secure. Ontario invested an additional $20.5 million in 2023–2024 to help address the rise of hate incidents against religious and minority groups, particularly amid a spike in antisemitism and Islamophobia. To date, 1,682 recipients have been funded. The grant will be open for applications in Fall 2024.

Hate Crimes and Extremism Investigative Team

The Hate Crime and Extremism Investigative Team (HCEIT) is a network of police services that provides specialized investigative support and conducts multi-jurisdictional strategic and tactical intelligence operations targeting individuals or organized groups to help reduce hate crime and keep Ontarians safe. In 2023–2024, the HCEIT added a Provincial Hate Crimes Coordinator and in 2024–2025, increased their membership from 18 to 21, which currently includes 19 municipal police services, the Parliamentary Protective Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.

First Nation Mobile Crisis Response Teams

The First Nation Mobile Crisis Response Team (FNMCRT) Grant provides funding to First Nation police services to hire mental health and addiction workers to support their Mobile Crisis Response Teams. This funding allows police services to work with local mental health professionals when responding to mental health and addictions related calls. Between 2021–2024, Ontario allocated $5.04 million over three years to First Nation police services through the FNMCRT Grant.

Working with community partners to develop and enhance community-informed initiatives to eliminate all expressions of racism and hate

City of London Anti-Hate Response Project

In Spring 2023, the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism announced a $500,000 investment over 2 years to support the City of London’s development of an anti-hate campaign. Since the beginning of 2024–2025, the City of London has been engaging with over 80 community organizations to inform the development of an online portal for anti-hate resources and a local anti-hate public education and awareness campaign about the different forms of hate, ways for the public to report hate, supports for bystander intervention and the intersectional identities of those who experience hate.

Safer and Vital Communities Grant

Successful applicants to the Safer and Vital Communities Grant collaborate with local police services to implement projects that address regional issues, such as hate crimes. The Ontario government has invested more than $1.4 million through the 2022–2024 cycle of the Safer and Vital Communities Grant, which supported 17 projects, five of which focused on combatting hate motivated crime online.

Seniors Active Living Centres Program

In 2023–2024, through its Seniors Active Living Centres Program, the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility invested approximately $14 million across 316 local community programs that support greater health and well-being for older adults, including Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities in Ontario. In 2024–2025, Ontario will increase its investment in the program to provide approximately $15 million across the 316 programs.

Seniors Community Grant Program

Seniors Community Grants, ranging from $1,000 up to $25,000, help support community organizations in providing opportunities for greater social inclusion, volunteerism, and community engagement for older adults, including those from Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities. Through this program, in 2023–2024, the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility invested approximately $6 million across 283 local community projects aimed at supporting greater community engagement for older Ontarians.

Restorative Justice Programs

Restorative Justice Programs are focused on reducing the likelihood of Indigenous people’s future involvement with the justice system by promoting healing, building resiliency and reconnecting Indigenous people with their cultural identity. The program increases access to pre- and post-charge diversion programs and alternative options informed by Indigenous worldviews, laws and dispute resolution processes.

Gladue Writer Program

The Gladue Writer Program is part of a $13.8 million investment over four years by the Ministry of the Attorney General. The program provides Gladue Reports to sentencing judges with a holistic account of an Indigenous person’s unique circumstances, which are required to be considered during sentencing to help address the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system. The Ministry of the Attorney General continues supporting these programs by seeking additional funding opportunities to complement Ontario’s funding.

Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

To address anti-Indigenous racism in the health care system, the Ministry of Health provides $1 million in annual funding to the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC) to deliver an Indigenous Cultural Safety Training program. In November 2023, the ministry announced an enhancement to the IPHCC’s training program, with an additional $1 million in 2023–2024 and 2024–2025.

In addition, through the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health offers thirteen online Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Awareness courses that provide knowledge about the history and culture of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous people and communities.

The Ontario government is investing multi-year funding to support several locally-designed and delivered Indigenous cultural safety training projects, including almost $2.7 million in 2023–2024, $5.6 million in 2024–2025, and $5.5 million in 2025–2026. It is expected that over 27,000 individuals will be trained in the 3 years.

Indigenous relationship building

To address anti-Indigenous racism and hate, the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism continues to build relationships with First Nation, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous partners and provided funding to 10 Indigenous organizations in 2023–2024 to support capacity building and engagement, as well as community-based Indigenous-led anti-racism and anti-hate projects.