Peterborough Police say controversial posters appearing in the city in recent days do not currently meet the threshold of a hate crime, while Mayor Jeff Leal is condemning their presence in the community.
The Peterborough Police Service says it has received reports about posters from the Dominion Society of Canada appearing around Douro Street and the Rotary Trail.
According to police, the posters promote the group’s position on immigration, including what it calls “remigration.”
Police say the reports have been documented as information. While acknowledging that many residents may disagree with the message, investigators say the presence of the posters does not currently rise to the level of criminality.
“There is no room for hate in our community at any time,” said Peterborough Police Chief Stuart Betts. “The number one goal of the Peterborough Police Service is public safety, and the Service is committed to this goal.”
Betts said existing provisions of the Criminal Code can lead to charges when the necessary grounds exist.
“In this instance, what we are seeing does not rise to the level of criminality,” he said.
Mayor Jeff Leal also issued a statement Tuesday, saying the posters have been appearing across the city. In his statement, Leal described the Dominion Society of Canada as an organization identified by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network as a white nationalist group.
Leal said City staff are following Peterborough’s procedure for reporting vandalism and hate-bias incidents, which includes notifying police.
“The City of Peterborough and its residents are committed to fostering a community that is welcoming, respectful, safe, and inclusive for all,” Leal said. “We want to ensure that Peterborough is a place where everyone feels like they belong.”
The mayor added the City has “zero tolerance for hate and hate-motivated acts,” particularly those motivated by prejudice or bias toward identifiable groups.
“Hate is not welcome in our City – full stop,” Leal said.
Police continue to encourage residents to report suspected hate- or bias-related incidents so they can be documented and assessed through the Peterborough Police online reporting portal.
