Durham: new $12.75M Ontario anti-hate fund open to faith and community groups

Ontario announced Thursday a $12.75-million investment through the Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant (AHSP), now open to religious, spiritual, Indigenous and community-serving organizations, including mosques, synagogues, temples, churches, faith-based and cultural schools, childcare providers and social service organizations. Grants of up to $10,000 cover security guards, building upgrades, surveillance cameras, cybersecurity, training and short-term security measures, with applications processed first come, first served through Ontario.ca/AHSP.

This year's program is expanded into two streams: a Security and Infrastructure stream for immediate safety needs, and a new Special Projects stream supporting community-led initiatives focused on preventing hate, promoting education and raising awareness. The province says it has invested more than $110 million since 2021, supporting over 6,900 faith-based and cultural organizations.

The Durham angle is stark: hate-motivated crimes and incidents rose 77 per cent in Durham Region between 2023 and 2024, according to the Region, which says hate activity is significantly under-reported. Durham Regional Police have announced two recent hate-related investigations involving alleged threats against Jewish and Muslim communities; the allegations in those cases have not been tested in court. The Region launched a community-based hate reporting program with Victim Services of Durham Region in January, letting residents report hate incidents confidentially, including incidents that may not meet the threshold of a criminal offence, with anonymous and witness reports accepted.

Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner told Wesal TV in an interview that people from different cultural and religious backgrounds should be able to feel safe in their communities, adding: "Hate has no place in our province." Community organizations welcomed the funding: the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the National Council of Canadian Muslims, the Hindu Heritage Centre and the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee said prior rounds paid for surveillance cameras, door upgrades, security guards and other measures at synagogues, schools, gurdwaras and places of worship. Sources: Whitby-based Wesal TV reporting, Oct. 15, 2026; Ontario government news release (Ontario Newsroom), Oct. 15, 2026.