Prosecutors in Ontario, Canada, will now have a dedicated hate crime unit after a motion was passed unanimously by the provincial parliament.
The private member's motion was moved by Michelle Cooper and passed on April 16.
Ontario's Attorney General Doug Downey described it as the latest step in the provincial government's plan to prevent hate-motivated crimes and hold offenders accountable.
The new unit will help bridge a gap in the prosecution service, where many cases involving hate crimes were previously weakened or dropped.
Smaller townships in Ontario do not have dedicated hate crime units, and the prosecution service can play a constructive role in handling these cases.
The measure was greeted by the Canadian Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which said it recognizes the need for a strong and coordinated approach to dealing with hate crimes across the justice system.
