Most hate crimes in Canada are based on race or ethnicity and visible minority Canadians are twice as worried as other Canadians about becoming victims, suggests a Statistics Canada study.

Released on Tuesday, the report is comprised of three surveys of hate crimes information from 12 Canadian police forces. The pilot study looked at who in Canada faces hate crimes and how frequently.

"We never had any idea about the type or the nature of hate crimes that come to the attention of police," said Karen Mihorean, with Statistics Canada.

Visible minorities, which make up 13 per cent of Canada's population, are the victims of 57 per cent of hate crimes, according to the study.

One in 11 visible minorities are concerned about becoming the target of a hate crime, double the rate of other Canadians.

Jim Gurnett, with the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, says visible minorities often feel the effects of some Canadians' fear of the unknown.

"The effects of that in those peoples lives are gigantic," said Gurnett.

The leading motivator for hate crimes is race and ethnicity, followed by religion and sexual orientation.

Jews or Jewish institutions are the most likely target for hate crimes in Canada, with 25 per cent of the 928 reported incidents being anti-Semitic in nature.

Other target groups include blacks, Muslims, South Asians, gays and lesbians, and Arabs.

The most common types of hate crimes reported are:

  • Mischief or vandalism.
  • Assault.
  • Uttering threats.
  • Hate propaganda.
Following the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States, Statistics Canada says there was a 350 per cent increase in hate crimes in Canada, with most directed against Muslims. The spike declined within a few weeks.

Regular reports of hate crime statistics is set to begin in 2005.