The video has sparked serious discussion online....
A confrontation at a Dawson Creek playground that was captured on video and shared online, is not being investigated as a hate crime. That’s because no criminal offence is alleged to have occurred, according to police.
The incident involved a female support worker of Filipino descent who was at a playground with an adult living with special needs when she was confronted by a man accompanied by a child.
According to information provided to CJDC-TV News, the man asked the support worker to better control the situation before launching into a verbal tirade.
Video obtained by CJDC-TV News shows the man making a series of comments directed at both the support worker and the individual in her care.
In the recording, the man tells the worker she should “go back to your country,” says she does not belong in Canada, and refers to the playground as being for “Canadians” and “regular people” and “not for foreigners like you.”
The man is also seen on the video making derogatory comments about people with mental health or developmental challenges. “This is a public park, not a mental institution,” said the man.
The video has sparked discussion online, with some residents questioning whether the comments constitute a hate crime.
However, Dawson Creek RCMP say that while the language used in the exchange was offensive, it does not meet the legal definition of a hate crime under Canadian law based on the information currently available.
Police say hate speech and hate crimes carry specific legal thresholds. In this case, investigators determined there was no evidence that a criminal offence had occurred and no indication that threats were made during the interaction.
According to police, hate crime is not a stand-alone charge in circumstances such as this. Rather, hate motivation can become an aggravating factor when another criminal offence has been committed, such as uttering threats, assault, or vandalism.
Officers say there is no evidence to suggest any such offence took place during this incident.
Police spoke with both parties involved following the confrontation. According to RCMP, the man seen in the video offered an apology.
The incident occurred at a school playground on Monday. Police say their assessment is based on the account provided by the victim and the evidence available to investigators.
While officers acknowledge the comments were offensive and troubling, they say the matter does not cross the legal threshold required for criminal charges.
The City of Dawson Creek reacted to the video circulating online. The City addressed the comment suggesting that City parks are only for Canadian citizens and that people with disabilities or residents who have relocated to Dawson Creek from other countries do not belong in these public spaces.
The City says it strongly and unequivocally rejects these statements.
“We want to be clear that everyone is welcome in our parks and public spaces,” said Mayor Darcy Dober. “Dawson Creek is a community that values people from all backgrounds and abilities. We may not always agree on everything, but respect, inclusion and treating one another with dignity are values we should all be able to share.”
The video continues to circulate on social media, where it has drawn criticism from residents concerned about discrimination and the treatment of people with disabilities and newcomers to Canada.
The RCMP investigation remains limited to determining whether a criminal offence occurred, and police say no charges are anticipated at this time.
-M. Popove CJDC-TV News
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