The Heritage Front
In 1992 the League for Human Rights prepared a research report
on the Heritage Front for internal use and limited circulation
among those in the business of combating racially motivated crime.
In the two years since that reports was written, there have been
substantial changes in the
Heritage Front (HF). Most notably,
three HF leaders were jailed for charges related to the operation of
the Front's telephone "hateline." These events revealed to the public
serious problems within the Front, including poor financial health
and declining membership. It was felt that an up-to-date report was
needed to provide accurate information for those interested in racist
groups.
Changes in the Canadian far right in the last two years are also
reflected in this report. The decline in prominence of several
right-wing leaders, including
Church of the Creator leader
George
Burdi, have affected Heritage Front activities. ln addition, new
Heritage Front splinter groups such as Equal Rights For Whites have
shifted the balance of power in the Heritage Front.
In August 1994 a series of stunning allegations suggested that the
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) gave money to Grant
Bristow to serve as an informant on far-right organizations in
Canada.
Heritage Front leaders have corroborated the suggestions in
the media that Bristow, who was first given money in 1989, gave a
great deal of money to the organization, especially in its early
days. Thus, CSIS allegedly indirectly created and maintained the
Heritage Front in the name of national security This report
begins to explore this covert relationship from its inception in
1989 until its expose five years later.
Attempts have also been made by Heritage Front members to access
mainstream political parties, such as the Reform Party. Furthermore,
the long recession that is only now ending in Canada has had a
profound impact on young people, many of whom are becoming active
members of far-right organizations. The dangers of hate group
recruitment activity are outlined in a pamphlet appended to this
report, copies of which are available through the League.
The creation of Hate Crimes Units in major police services across
Canada as well as intelligence gathering by federal and provincial
police agencies, have escalated the fight against hate and bias
crime. We trust that this report will be useful to law-enforcement
personnel, to media of the media, and to all citizens interested
in combatting hate group activity in Canada.
Lyle Smordin Dr. Karen Mock
National Chair, National Director,
League for Human Rights League for Human Rights
September 1, 1994
Acknowledgements
This report was prepared by Richard J. Berman, Research and
Communications, and edited by Dr. Karen Mock, National Director. It
was based on the
Heritage Front Report: 1992, by Susan Sapiro, Summer
Intern, and additional research material was compiled by Junipero
Lagtapon, 1994 Summer Intern. This report was designed by Joel Roff
using Quark Express for Macintosh.
All references are credited in the appendices and/or bibliography.
We are grateful to the students, volunteers, and staff for their
outstanding contribution to this report and to the ongoing
work of the League.
© 1994 League for Human Rights
No part of this book may be produced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
ftp.
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