Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government is considering a special fund to help religious minorities protect their schools, places of worship and community centres from hate crimes or terrorist attacks, CanWest News Service has learned.

The money would help groups train staff, construct new fences and install security cameras.

"We are taking the request (for a fund for security help to vulnerable ethnic communities) under consideration," said a spokeswoman for Public Security Minister Stockwell Day in an e-mail Friday.

"This government has zero tolerance for any hate crimes or actions targeted against religious or ethnic groups," Melisa Leclerc added. [Link]