Latest news with #HIPC
6 days ago
- Politics
Anti-hate coalition denounces presence of white nationalist 'active clubs' in Hamilton, calls for action
Several organizations in Hamilton are denouncing white nationalist active clubs, whose members were found by a recent investigative report by CBC News (new window) to be preparing for a "race war" in area gyms and parks. The Hamilton Anti Hate Coalition, a group formerly known as No Hate in the Hammer, said it is also calling on municipal authorities and neighbours to act immediately in light of the investigation's findings. Coalition members have also issued their own statements since the investigation's initial report was published on July 18. Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC), and Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC) have expressed their condemnation and are calling for urgent action to root out hate. HIPC said it's deeply alarmed by the report from the CBC's visual investigation unit. These groups are not benign social organizations. They are part of a transnational movement grounded in fascist ideology, white supremacy, misogyny, and violent extremism, HIPC said in a statement. HIPC unequivocally condemns the presence of these hate-fuelled organizations in our city, the statement reads. Their activities — whether covert or public — pose a serious threat to the safety of all Hamiltonians and are especially harmful to newcomers and longstanding racialized communities who already experience heightened risk of discrimination and violence. Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council's anti-racism committee chair is Kim Martin. Photo: Submitted by Sarah Wayland According to HIPC anti-racism committee chair Kim Martin, newcomers and racialized communities face disproportionate barriers and discrimination. The organized presence of hate groups training in our public spaces sends a chilling message, Martin said. This cannot be normalized. We must meet it with urgency, solidarity, and zero tolerance for hate in all its forms. A CBC visual investigation (new window) , in collaboration with The Fifth Estate, recently identified local spaces where white nationalists are getting together to train, including in Myrtle and Gage Parks. Known within white nationalist communities as active clubs, these training sessions are also part of the groups' recruitment and propaganda. Although the clubs portray themselves as promoting community, fitness and Canada's European heritage, some experts told CBC News they're a growing extremist threat. Organization launches survey to hear from residents The report prompted HCCI — a community-based organization dedicated to making Hamilton an inclusive city — to get public input on combating hate. HCCI has launched a survey saying it wants to hear from people about what is needed and what expertise already exists to determine how best to support impacted communities. "Many of you have likely seen the disturbing reports published by CBC (new window) and CBC Hamilton (new window) about so-called 'active-clubs' operating in Hamilton gyms and local public spaces," HCCI wrote in an email on July 23. The escalation of these activities in the current context is disturbing and we know that reading and seeing this happen so close to home is very concerning, HCCI said. We also know that it triggers many historical memories and feelings amongst communities for whom these threats are unfortunately not new. HCCI has put out a three-question survey to see if there are any specific needs we could help respond to and figure out if we can pool some resources to add to and amplify the knowledge and skills that we know already exist in our communities. HCCI told CBC Hamilton residents interested in filling out the survey can contact HCCI directly with their email address and name and they will send the link. WATCH | CBC tracks 'active clubs' to Hamilton area: The anti-hate coalition is also encouraging residents to report suspicious activity such as groups training in parks under questionable circumstances. For example, they could be wearing masks, appear heavily militarized and be using white supremacy slogans. There are various means to report such activity, the group said, including through the Hamilton police and (new window) , a website launched in 2023 for people in the area to report incidents of hate. It is separate from police. Police say no criminal offences reported related to groups Hamilton Police Service said it is aware of the groups mentioned in the CBC report and continue to monitor their activities, however there have been no criminal offences reported to Hamilton police related to these clubs, it said. Police also said a club training in a facility is not a criminal offence. It is up to the individual business owner to act accordingly. Each business owner has the right to choose how they respond. They advised anyone who sees members of an active club working out in a park to report it through police's non-emergency number or online. On July 24, Hamilton police released their 2024 hate crime statistics (new window) , which show that 297 hate- or bias-related crimes and incidents were reported to police over the 12-month period, a 35 per cent increase from the previous year. Hamilton police reported 106 hate crimes — criminal offences where hate or bias is a clear motivating factor — and 191 hate incidents, which include actions with hateful overtones but that don't meet the legal threshold for a crime. Hate crimes were most often in the form of graffiti, but also included arson, assault, criminal harassment, theft and uttering threats, among others, police said. Black, Jewish and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities were the most frequently targeted. 'We need.. preventative approaches': HARRC City officials, including Mayor Andrea Horwath and Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann, have been urging residents who discover hate in their neighbourhoods to report it. Residents in Hamilton want assurance that our local police service is working proactively to monitor, track, investigate and report the individuals involved in extremist organizing in Hamilton with Canadian intelligence agencies, Nann wrote in an email to CBC Hamilton. I encourage all residents in the city to learn more about hate symbols so they can report them accurately. Nann said she is working with both HCCI and HARRC to build skills residents can use to foster community safety in Ward 3 neighbourhoods. A CBC investigation found members of white supremacist groups have been preparing for a 'race war' in Hamilton-area gyms and parks. Police say they are aware of these groups and continue to monitor them. Photo: CBC / Bobby Hristova HARRC's executive director, Lyndon George, said collective accountability, is needed, noting that we can't keep treating racism and hate as individual experiences. To confront hate in Hamilton, we need to shift from 'they' to 'we.' This is not a problem for impacted communities to solve alone; it's a responsibility we all share. George is concerned that racism and hate are too often reduced to isolated incidents or perpetuated by bad actors instead of being recognized as systemic and experienced collectively by entire communities, often over generations, he said. We need systems of accountability that include preventive approaches to address hate, bias, and radicalization before they engage in violent extremism. With files from Aura Carreño Rosas, Justin Chandler, CBC News
CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Anti-hate coalition denounces presence of white nationalist 'active clubs' in Hamilton, calls for action
Social Sharing Several organizations in Hamilton are denouncing white nationalist "active clubs," whose members were found by a recent investigative report by CBC News to be preparing for a "race war" in area gyms and parks. The Hamilton Anti Hate Coalition, a group formerly known as No Hate in the Hammer, said it is also calling on municipal authorities and neighbours to "act immediately" in light of the investigation's findings. Coalition members have also issued their own statements since the investigation's initial report was published on July 18. Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC), and Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC) have expressed their condemnation and are calling for urgent action to root out hate. HIPC said it's "deeply alarmed" by the report from the CBC's visual investigation unit. "These groups are not benign social organizations. They are part of a transnational movement grounded in fascist ideology, white supremacy, misogyny, and violent extremism," HIPC said in a statement. "HIPC unequivocally condemns the presence of these hate-fuelled organizations in our city," the statement reads. "Their activities — whether covert or public — pose a serious threat to the safety of all Hamiltonians and are especially harmful to newcomers and longstanding racialized communities who already experience heightened risk of discrimination and violence." According to HIPC anti-racism committee chair Kim Martin, newcomers and racialized communities face disproportionate barriers and discrimination. "The organized presence of hate groups training in our public spaces sends a chilling message," Martin said. "This cannot be normalized. We must meet it with urgency, solidarity, and zero tolerance for hate in all its forms." Fascist fight clubs are training for a 'race war' in parks and gyms. CBC tracked them A CBC visual investigation, in collaboration with The Fifth Estate, recently identified local spaces where white nationalists are getting together to train, including in Myrtle and Gage Parks. Known within white nationalist communities as "active clubs," these training sessions are also part of the groups' recruitment and propaganda. Although the clubs portray themselves as promoting community, fitness and Canada's European heritage, some experts told CBC News they're a growing extremist threat. Organization launches survey to hear from residents The report prompted HCCI — a community-based organization dedicated to making Hamilton an inclusive city — to get public input on combating hate. HCCI has launched a survey saying it wants to hear from people about what is needed and what expertise already exists to determine "how best to support impacted communities." "Many of you have likely seen the disturbing reports published by CBC and CBC Hamilton about so-called 'active-clubs' operating in Hamilton gyms and local public spaces," HCCI wrote in an email on July 23. "The escalation of these activities in the current context is disturbing and we know that reading and seeing this happen so close to home is very concerning," HCCI said. "We also know that it triggers many historical memories and feelings amongst communities for whom these threats are unfortunately not new." HCCI has put out a three-question survey to "see if there are any specific needs we could help respond to and figure out if we can pool some resources to add to and amplify the knowledge and skills that we know already exist in our communities." HCCI told CBC Hamilton residents interested in filling out the survey can contact HCCI directly with their email address and name and they will send the link. WATCH | CBC tracks 'active clubs' to Hamilton area: Exposing fascist fight clubs training for 'race war' in Canada 16 days ago CBC News' visual investigations team tracks down where two Ontario-based white nationalist groups recruit and train young men to fight. They're called 'active clubs' and they're on the rise around the world, including in Canada, where experts say they're one of the fastest-growing extremist threats. We expose them to the owners of MMA and boxing clubs that they've infiltrated. The anti-hate coalition is also encouraging residents to "report suspicious activity" such as groups training in parks under "questionable circumstances." For example, they could be wearing masks, appear heavily militarized and be using white supremacy slogans. There are various means to report such activity, the group said, including through the Hamilton police and a website launched in 2023 for people in the area to report incidents of hate. It is separate from police. Police say no criminal offences reported related to groups Hamilton Police Service said it is aware of the groups mentioned in the CBC report and "continue to monitor their activities," however "there have been no criminal offences reported to Hamilton police related to these clubs," it said. Police also said "a club training in a facility is not a criminal offence. It is up to the individual business owner to act accordingly. Each business owner has the right to choose how they respond." They advised anyone who sees members of an active club working out in a park to report it through police's non-emergency number or online. On July 24, Hamilton police released their 2024 hate crime statistics, which show that 297 hate- or bias-related crimes and incidents were reported to police over the 12-month period, a 35 per cent increase from the previous year. Hamilton police reported 106 hate crimes — criminal offences where hate or bias is a clear motivating factor — and 191 hate incidents, which include actions with hateful overtones but that don't meet the legal threshold for a crime. Hate crimes were most often in the form of graffiti, but also included arson, assault, criminal harassment, theft and uttering threats, among others, police said. Black, Jewish and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities were the most frequently targeted. 'We need.. preventative approaches': HARRC City officials, including Mayor Andrea Horwath and Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann, have been urging residents who discover "hate" in their neighbourhoods to report it. "Residents in Hamilton want assurance that our local police service is working proactively to monitor, track, investigate and report the individuals involved in extremist organizing in Hamilton with Canadian intelligence agencies," Nann wrote in an email to CBC Hamilton. "I encourage all residents in the city to learn more about hate symbols so they can report them accurately." Nann said she is working with both HCCI and HARRC to build skills residents can use to foster community safety in Ward 3 neighbourhoods. HARRC's executive director, Lyndon George, said "collective accountability," is needed, noting that "we can't keep treating racism and hate as individual experiences." "To confront hate in Hamilton, we need to shift from 'they' to 'we.' This is not a problem for impacted communities to solve alone; it's a responsibility we all share." George is concerned that racism and hate are too often reduced to "isolated incidents" or perpetuated by "bad actors" instead of being recognized as "systemic and experienced collectively by entire communities, often over generations," he said.
Arab News
02-08-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Africa's debt crisis demands self-reliant solutions
The much-discussed Jubilee Report, emerging from expert deliberations commissioned by the Vatican, diagnoses the acute debt distress strangling developing economies, particularly in Africa, with commendable clarity. It presents a familiar litany of systemic failures: pro-cyclical capital flows, creditor-friendly legal architectures in New York and London, the inadequacy of debt sustainability analyses, and the perverse incentives perpetuated by international financial institutions. Its prescriptions, including a new heavily indebted poor countries initiative, legal reforms to curb predatory litigation, shifts toward 'growth-oriented austerity,' and massive increases in multilateral financing, echo decades of expert consensus. Yet, a fundamental flaw remains. The report's prescriptions rely on coordinated global goodwill and structural reform that is demonstrably absent in today's fragmented world. For Africa, where public debt has outpaced national economic growth since 2013, and home to 751 million people in countries spending more on servicing external debt than on education or health — waiting for this global consensus is not strategy; it is surrender. The report's morally resonant idealism dangerously underestimates the entrenched hostility to meaningful concessions benefiting African economies and overlooks the imperative for radical, self-reliant solutions. Consider the sheer scale of the crisis versus the proposed global fixes. A total of 54 developing countries now allocate over 10 percent of public revenues merely to interest payments. In Africa, this fiscal hemorrhage directly competes with existential needs: costly climate adaptation for countries contributing minimally to emissions, yet facing devastating impacts, and investment in a youth population projected to reach 35 percent of the global total by 2050. The report rightly condemns the injustice, historical and ongoing, embedded in this dynamic. However, its central remedy, a heavily indebted poor countries initiative, requires unprecedented cooperation from diverse and often adversarial creditor blocs: traditional Paris Club members; newer bilateral lenders such as China; and, crucially, private bondholders who now dominate over 40 percent of low and lower-middle income country external debt. Regardless, historical precedent does not inspire confidence. A predecessor heavily indebted poor countries initiative, while delivering relief, failed to prevent recurrence precisely because it did not alter the fundamental dynamics or the structure of global finance. Why expect a sequel, demanding even greater concessions from powerful financial interests operating within unreformed legal jurisdictions, to succeed now? The Common Framework, hailed as progress, has delivered negligible relief precisely due to creditor discord and obstructionism. Betting Africa's future on such actors suddenly developing a collective conscience is not realism; it is negligence. Additionally, the report's reliance on international financial institutions as engines of reform and finance is equally problematic. It calls for an end to International Monetary Fund bailouts of private creditors; lower surcharges; massive SDR, or Special Drawing Right, reallocations; and transformed multilateral development bank lending models. Yet, the governance structures of these institutions remain frozen in mid-20th-century power dynamics that remain heavily skewed against African representation and influence. For instance, securing a $650 billion SDR allocation during the pandemic proved a herculean task; achieving the regular, larger, and equitably distributed issuances the report envisions, given rising fiscal nationalism and escalating geopolitical rivalries, seems quixotic. Moreover, the notion that these same institutions, historically enforcers of austerity and guardians of creditor interests, can reinvent themselves as champions of unconditional, mission-driven finance for African transformation ignores their institutional DNA and the political constraints imposed by their major shareholders. Meanwhile, the call for MDBs to lend massively in local currencies, while technically sound for reducing exchange rate risk, faces fierce resistance from bond markets and rating agencies wary of currency volatility, effectively limiting its scale without improbable capital increases. Furthermore, the report's focus on grand interventions, from debt buyback funds and global climate funds to international bankruptcy courts, fails to grapple with the toxic geopolitical environment. Historical prejudices framing African governance as inherently corrupt or incapable, combined with rising great power competition, actively work against complex cooperative frameworks perceived as primarily benefiting African countries. Solutions built on African agency, regional cohesion, and financial self-reliance offer a more realistic path out of the debt trap. Hafed Al-Ghwell In addition, resources for global funds are notoriously scarce and fiercely contested; establishing new international legal architectures faces veto points at every turn. The current global context is not merely indifferent to African debt distress; elements within it are actively hostile to solutions requiring hefty financial transfers or perceived concessions of leverage. Waiting for this hostility to abate condemns Africa to prolonged debt traps, draining precious reserves crucial for the continent's 1.4 billion people and, ultimately, global stability. The path forward, therefore, demands a harsh pivot toward solutions Africa controls, minimizing reliance on external mobilization vulnerable to global whims. This is not isolationism but pragmatic self-preservation. It requires, for instance, aggressively developing domestic capital markets. Africa's savings, estimated in the trillions of dollars collectively, are often parked in low-yield advanced economy assets or leave the continent entirely. Redirecting these resources requires efforts to deepen local bond markets, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and incentivize institutional investors to allocate capital locally. Second, the report mentions implementing strategic capital account regulations, but underplays their centrality. African countries must actively deploy tools, from reserve requirements to taxes on short-term inflows and prudential limits on foreign currency exposure, to break the pro-cyclical boom-bust cycle of capital flows. This shields fiscal space and reduces vulnerability to the monetary policy shocks emanating from advanced economies. It is a tool of sovereignty, not retreat. Third, strengthening mechanisms such as the African Monetary Fund and expanding regional swap arrangements is critical for building robust regional financial safety nets. Pooling reserves and establishing regional payment systems, thereby reducing dollar dependency for intra-African trade, can provide vital liquidity during crises without the conditionalities of the IMF. This demands unprecedented political will for regional integration and also offers a tangible buffer against global volatility. Fourth, every new infrastructure project financed in dollars increases future vulnerability. Negotiating harder for local currency loans from remaining bilateral partners and MDBs, even at marginally higher initial rates, is essential. Simultaneously, investing in credible monetary policy frameworks is nonnegotiable to sustain this approach. Lastly, transparency and robust domestic oversight of borrowing, including contingent liabilities from public-private partnerships, are vital to prevent repeating past mistakes. Building domestic technical capacity for sophisticated debt sustainability analyses, independent of existing models often blind to climate vulnerability, strengthens negotiation positions. Ultimately, the diagnoses are accurate — there is no argument there. However, the prescribed medicine is simply a dose the global pharmacy refuses to dispense. Africa's debt crisis, crippling distressed countries and suffocating the futures of 288 million people in extreme poverty, cannot await a global kumbaya moment. The moral imperative remains, but the strategic response must shift. Solutions built on African agency, regional cohesion, and financial self-reliance, however difficult, offer a more realistic, and ultimately, more dignified path out of the debt trap than persistent reliance on a system structurally biased against the continent's development.
Hamilton Spectator
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton immigration council ‘deeply alarmed' by reports of white nationalists training in city parks
The Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC) says it is 'deeply alarmed' amid reports that white nationalists are gathering to train in local parks and gyms. Dubbed 'active clubs,' the far-right groups aren't 'benign social organizations,' HIPC warned in a news release Thursday. 'They are part of a transnational movement grounded in fascist ideology, white supremacy, misogyny and violent extremism.' The council's 'unequivocal' condemnation comes in the wake of a CBC News investigation which reported white supremacist groups have been training for an impending 'race war' in the Hamilton area, including public spaces like Myrtle and Gage parks, as well as a pair of local boxing gyms. The troubling activity is part of a broader trend. In ' Hate Rising ,' a multi-part series released in 2023, The Spectator reported about a group of Hamilton-grown neo-Nazis who called themselves Nationalist-13 — and who claimed to be part of the 'fastest growing nationalist community in Canada.' The investigation revealed Nationalist-13 was responsible for a sticker and vandalism campaign across Hamilton, including a white pride sticker placed over the face of a Black municipal election candidate's billboard. Existing as a white nationalist community on messaging app Telegram — like many other modern neo-Nazi outfits — the group also organized publicity stunts, such as waving racist banners over the Red Hill Valley Parkway and using Sam Lawrence Park to engage in survivalist exercise. In its July 18 story, CBC described Nationalist-13 as one of Canada's most prolific 'active clubs.' Ongoing public displays rooted in hate are particularly concerning given newcomers are among the city's largest users of parks, said Grace Baldwin, chair of the HIPC and director of Goof Shepherd's Family Centre. 'They should be able to feel safe as they go about in the city.' Immigrants most often experience discrimination in public places, according to Baldwin. She pointed to early results from HIPC's 2025 Immigration Survey — expected to be released this fall — which suggests 'stores, banks, restaurants, parks and sidewalks were among the top five contexts where participants experienced discrimination' in the past year. Baldwin said about one-third of survey participants — 630 newcomers responded — reported experiencing discrimination since 2024, with racialized immigrants more likely to be victimized than white participants. 'When we're seeing this type of (white nationalist) activity out in the open, in the community, what message is this sending to newcomers?' Baldwin said over a call. 'We felt it was important to speak about this and send a message to newcomers that there are people within this community that are here to support you.' In a statement, Coun. Nrinder Nann — whose ward includes the parks cited by CBC as training grounds for white supremacist groups — called violent extremism a 'national security threat.' 'This presence is concerning to neighbours across Ward 3 and to me personally,' said Nann, who also spoke about the issue at length in a 16-minute Instagram video July 23. 'Active clubs operate under the guise of sparring and physical training — however, their mandate is to incite national race wars.' White nationalists operating in Hamilton are not an isolated concern, according to the HIPC. Hamilton police recently reported a fourth-consecutive annual increase in hate-related incidents with 297 reported in 2024 — up 35 per cent from 2023 and well above the 10-year average of 146 per year. Staff Sgt. Ryan Hashimoto of the hate-crime unit attributed the uptick in part to more reporting, but also a rise in alt-right ideologies, anti-immigration rhetoric and geopolitical events like the Israel-Hamas conflict. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Calgary Herald
25-06-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Alberta reaches deal to donate imported children's pain medication to Ukraine
Alberta has reached a deal with a charitable organization to donate to Ukraine the province's surplus supply of children's pain medication it imported from Turkey two years ago in a deal that has become the subject of multiple investigations. Article content Montreal-based Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) told Postmedia on Tuesday that it had struck an agreement with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to accept as many as 1.4 million bottles of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to donate to the war-torn European country. Article content Article content Article content The organization says once the donation is received, it will work with partner organizations and local government to identify where the supply is most needed. Article content Article content 'In essence we match what is needed to what we have available,' HIPC president Lois Brown stated in an email. Article content 'Agreements with recipient partners include guarantees that all donated medicines will be used in accordance with applicable standard treatment guidelines.' Article content HIPC partner organizations typically cover the costs of transportation for donated supplies. Article content In April, Health Canada told Postmedia it had issued a 'no objection' letter in March to Alberta's request to donate the medication to Ukraine. Article content The letter requires Alberta to ensure the drugs are only sold or donated abroad for humanitarian purposes, don't violate Ukrainian laws including import approvals, and that logistics and quality oversight are overseen by a compliant drug establishment licence holder. Article content Article content Turkish-base drug manufacturer Atabay had been seeking that licence though its status remains unclear. Article content Postmedia's queries regarding the licence as well as details on quantity, timing, and cost were directed to the office of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones. Article content AHS has previously said it was not part of the process of finalizing a donation agreement. Article content 'Good quality drugs' Article content The medication was imported in 2023 under exceptional circumstances amid a Canada-wide shortage, and is set to expire between January and March of next year, according to internal documents previously obtained by Postmedia. Article content Less than a third of the planned shipment arrived, and much of the medication that did make it to Alberta went unused after the shortage ended.
