The NDP MLA for Delta North wants to see if BC can implement non-criminal sanctions to deter racist and hateful behaviour.

Speaking on NL Newsday, Ravi Kahlon says a number of people told him over the summer that the legal framework in B.C. to prevent racism is not enough.

And so, he’s asked Solicitor General Mike Farnworth to see what options are available.

“I highlighted two things in particular, one for the Solicitor General to reach out to CSIS and see if they are doing investigations on some of these hate groups that are organizing throughout B.C.. And my second ask was to scan other jurisdictions to see what are they doing to address racism in society.”

Kahlon says he was often told by people to try and implement what is done in the United Kingdom.

“Right now, if somebody was inciting hate or inciting racism, they could go to jail. But the truth is, that doesn’t always happen,” Kahlon added. “In the UK what they’ve done is, if it’s really serious, they’ll take you to court. But if you are inciting hatred, then there is a fine process to just address the low level piece of it.”

“It might be one to consider.”

But he says the UK model is just a recommendation, and it’s not something that province is implementing right away.

“To be honest, I’m indifferent about what the solution is,” said Kahlon. “All I can say is that we need to do something and the first place we should start is looking to see what other jurisdictions are doing, and if its working, let’s consider it, and if it’s not working, let’s think of something else.”

His letter points out that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has recently created a new Cross-Ministry Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate Working Group. And so Kahlon is hoping for engagement from Farnworth’s ministry to develop an action plan for the coming year.