There is a dispute over the definition of racial profiling. Critics ask: Is this racist or is it a necessary part of law enforcement? Racial profiling is identified by Adele Cassola in her article as unfair while Denyse Coles argues that racial profiling is necessary and is not considered racism. According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, “racial profiling is based on stereotypical assumptions related to race, color, ethnic origin, etc. ” while criminal profiling “is based on actual behavior or information about suspected activities on the part of a person meeting the description of a specific individual” (Factsheet, paragraph 2). This definition is also shared by Casola but Coles considers them identical. It is important to separate facts from feelings when talking about racial profiling; stereotypes are offensive, but identifying one's race in a criminal profile does not make a person racist. In the article “Point: Racial profiling in law enforcement is unfair,” Adele Cassola determines that racial profiling is a significant problem in policing across Canada. She points out that racial profiling is based on stereotypes of race, ethnicity and cultural background, with African-Canadians, Arab-Canadians and Indigenous Canadians being the most frequently targeted. Racial profiling is not unique to law enforcement and immigration, Cassola asserts, “it is a widespread problem within other institutions and establishments” (2009). She found a survey showing that African-Canadian students in Toronto high schools were stopped four times more frequently and searched six times more frequently than their non-black classmates. In a 2002 Toronto Star newspaper article, Cassola notes that African-Canadians were subject...... middle of article ...... a clear definition in each provincial agency in Canada will help resolve the gap in how racial profiling is perceived. Identifying one's height, weight or skin color is an important part of creating a criminal profile and does not constitute racial profiling. However, agencies must be sensitive to avoid stereotypes and avoid common pitfalls that have earned them a bad reputation in the past. Works Cited Cassola, A. (2009). Point: Racial profiling in law enforcement is unfair. Extracted from the Canadian Perspectives Reference Centre. Coles, D. (2009). Counterpoint: Racial profiling is a responsible approach to law enforcement. Extracted from the Canadian Perspectives Reference Centre. Ontario. Ontario Human Rights Commission. (2011). What is racial profiling? Retrieved from http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/factsheets/whatisracialprofiling/view