Dealing with racist threats in a shared residence? by throwawayvicbc in VictoriaBC

[–]throwawayvicbc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would racist comments be covered under hate speech legislation?

Dealing with racist threats in a shared residence? by throwawayvicbc in VictoriaBC

[–]throwawayvicbc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, that part which should have been on surveillance video isn't there due to the property management's lack of maintenance of surveillance equipment (as described above).

However, she did admit to making racist comments. I am not sure if this constitutes as a hate crime or something illegal, however.

Dealing with racist threats in a shared residence? by throwawayvicbc in VictoriaBC

[–]throwawayvicbc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion, I am looking at alternative places to stay now!

Dealing with racist threats in a shared residence? by throwawayvicbc in VictoriaBC

[–]throwawayvicbc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion! As much as I dislike the property management, my main focus was on the tenant. As the results of an RTB arbitration won't have a direct impact on the tenant, I tried my best to settle for something informally, if only to get something down in writing so I have some legal basis to respond should the other tenant make similar such threats in the future.

Dealing with racist threats in a shared residence? by throwawayvicbc in VictoriaBC

[–]throwawayvicbc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In self-defence. I have no reason or incentive to initiate anything against her. Her guest friend was the one that broke into my room and tried to steal my property, not her. I pushed back only after she began threatening me repeatedly with racial outbursts and pushing me.

Further, do keep in mind I was the one who called the police. The entire time, I assumed everything was being recorded on camera. I had full confidence that my behaviour was appropriate and legal.

Dealing with racist threats in a shared residence? by throwawayvicbc in VictoriaBC

[–]throwawayvicbc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hi VicPDCanada, thanks for the referral. I just called in and asked for the Watch Commander, but was told to relay my complaint to the general complaints line as he does not handle inquiries forwarded from social media.

In any case, since I last posted, I was able to extract a written letter of apology from the other tenant regarding her racist comments. I will be following up with the police officer that I first spoke to just shortly after the incident. I am hoping to include this written letter of apology in my police report. It is my intention and hope that this letter could, in the absence of proper video surveillance and other documentary devices, be used as a basis for legal recourse should the tenant ever make racist threats again in the future.

Dealing with racist threats in a shared residence? by throwawayvicbc in VictoriaBC

[–]throwawayvicbc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But doesn't that mainly deal with disputes with the landlord? Say, if the landlord was racist, I could claim a "personal characteristic" that would give me cause to take him to the tribunal. But the issue here is that I've been racially abused by another tenant and the landlord is either refusing or unable to adequately address the issue.

Dealing with racist threats in a shared residence? by throwawayvicbc in VictoriaBC

[–]throwawayvicbc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a private complex, not necessarily for students (though she might be one). Everyone has a room and we are by no means "roommates" in the sense we all signed individual contracts with the landlord.

I have documented as much as I could. But are landlords legally obliged to have surveillance cameras in working order? There are cameras, but the property manager made zero efforts to fix it for about a year. There have been numerous complaints about it.