Alberta Human Rights Commission chief speaks out against racism, intolerance

The chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission isspeaking out about racism and intolerance in the province.

Robert Philp cites incidents of racial slurs, verbal attacksagainst a First Nations family, anti-Sikh and Muslim posters and aburned Qur'an over the past few months.

• Window smashed, burnt Quran, hateful letter left at Calgary Islamic centre

Philp says this isn't the Alberta that he knows and is not theAlberta in which he wants to live.

He says there is no room for hatred or intolerance in theprovince.

Philp calls on people to recommit to the principle that allpeople are equal without regard to race, religious beliefs, colour,gender, physical disability, age, place or origin or sexualorientation.

Philp is a former provincial court judge.

"This is not the Alberta that I know. Nor is this the Alberta inwhich I want to live," Philp wrote in a message posted on thecommission's website Tuesday.

"I encourage all Albertans to live the values set out in theAlberta Human Rights Act and to promote the ideal that all Albertanshave the right to live in a province that respects, values andcelebrates our differences, which only serve to make us stronger."

The message comes as the Edmonton Police Service announced thatits hate crimes unit continues to investigate an ongoing series ofanti-Islam posters being circulated across the city.