Crowns to get training to help prosecute hate crimes
Manitoba Crown attorneys will receive enhanced training on the prosecution of hate crimes as part of a national effort to crack down on racism, discrimination and violence against marginalized groups.
The federal and provincial governments are providing $95,000 for the program, which follows the recent arrests of two Winnipeg men charged with separate hate-related offences.
'Hate crimes have devastating impacts on victims and communities, and prosecuting these cases can be complex,' Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said in a news release Thursday.
'Hate crimes have devastating impacts on victims and communities, and prosecuting these cases can be complex,' said Justice Minister Matt Wiebe in a news release Thursday. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files)
'This specialized training will enhance the knowledge of prosecutors so that they can continue to serve the public interest by effectively prosecuting hate-motivated crimes and holding offenders accountable for the serious harm they cause.'
The money will allow Crown attorneys to learn directly from experts who study hate crimes to give them a deeper understanding of their impact on victims and cultural communities. It includes funding for an educational conference, which is to be held in Winnipeg in December, the release said.
Manitoba is working with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg to co-ordinate and support the training, which aligns with Canada's action plan to combat hate. The plan, which was released in the fall, earmarked $273.6 million over the next six years.
Sean Fraser, the federal justice minister, said he's 'very pleased' to spend some of the money in Manitoba.
'We know that hate crimes have risen in recent years, and they have had an impact on public safety and social cohesion,' he said in the release.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has worked with Manitoba Justice and law enforcement officials to co-ordinate the Manitoba Prosecution Service hate crime working group, which was announced in January.
'We've been working… to ensure that when hate crimes occur, charges are laid and every legal avenue is pursued,' vice-president Gustavo Zentner said.
In a separate statement, Zentner responded to the arrest of a 23-year-old Winnipeg man accused of hate offences.
On Wednesday, police announced Donovan Ballingall had been charged with four counts of the willful promotion of hatred. He's alleged to have targeted the Jewish, Muslim and LGBTTQ+ communities, as well as visible minorities, in online posts.
Ballingall was arrested April 29 and remains in custody at the Winnipeg Remand Centre. Court records show he has a court appearance May 26.
'We appreciate the RCMP for handling this case with the seriousness it warrants,' Zentner said in his statement.
'This case is a powerful reminder that hate knows no boundaries.'
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said Ballingall is the first person in Manitoba to be charged with wilfully promoting hate.
The Free Press was unable to independently verify that information.
Manitoba RCMP deferred comment to its national headquarters in Ottawa, which did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday and Thursday.
Police did not provide further details about the offences Ballingall is accused of committing, or confirm whether he acted alone or as part of a group.
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In March, the RCMP announced it upgraded charges against another Winnipeg man who was in custody for hate-related offences.
Nevin Thunder Young, 19, was charged with two counts of commission of an offence for a terrorist group, and single counts of participation in the activity of a terrorist group and facilitating terrorist activity.
The charges are in addition to 26 counts of mischief under $5,000 for incidents in Charleswood from Sept. 28 to Dec. 31, 2024.
Investigators linked Young to an international violent extremist group known as M.K.Y., police said at the time.
tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca
Tyler SearleReporter
Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler.
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