Flowers and messages are left at a memorial on Yonge Street the day after a driver drove a rented van down sidewalks Monday afternoon, striking pedestrians in his path in Toronto, Tuesday, April 24, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Galit Rodan

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is calling on web giants to address hate speech online after the Toronto van attack shone a light on a hateful group that calls themselves “incels.”

“Criminal behaviour is not, obviously, tolerated in reality and can’t be tolerated online. People’s behaviour must be the same online and offline,” Joly said.

“Therefore, we call upon the web giants to make sure that they counter any form of hate speech and any form of discrimination.”

The term “incel” is shorthand for involuntary celibate. It found its most active home as a now-banned part of the website Reddit, where users gathered to discuss their disdain for those who are sexually active and to lament their own celibacy. The group often place blame for their “involuntary celibacy” on women and have previously praised Elliot Rodger, who killed six people in 2014.

Federal MPs reacted with disgust when they heard about the group.

“I’m most disgusted than anything else. I can’t believe that someone will have that kind of thinking in our generation. It’s crazy, it’s stupid,” said Conservative MP Gérard Deltell.

The federal employment minister went further.

On her way into caucus Patty Hajdu, who is steering a bill to end sexual harassment in the workplace through parliament, said it is time Canadians spoke up about what she described as a troubling trend of hate directed at women.

“From my perspective, we have to have a conversation about misogyny, about the rise in hate and the connection to what some call the alt-right,” she said.

“I think it’s a conversation that’s just not being had loudly enough in our society.”

Hajdu’s office later clarified that her comments were, however, “in no way a direct comment on the events that took place in Toronto.”

Facebook has confirmed that a post alluding to an “incel rebellion” — made just hours before a white van careened into a busy Toronto sidewalk — came from 25-year-old Alek Minassian, who faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murdered in connection with the incident.

While the revelation has fuelled speculation that the attack could have been motivated by misogyny, Toronto Police have said the perpetrator’s motivation for the attack remains unknown.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne called it a “horrible, hateful site” but cautioned against any assumptions that it points to Minassian’s motive.

As the first female premier of Ontario, a mum and a grandmother, Wynne said “it’s very, very disturbing that we have venues where this kind of hateful, misogynist language is used. Where those attitudes are given permission in someway.”

“The investigation is ongoing and I’m not going to comment on various aspects of it,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “But a lot of people have questions as to why and there may or may not be actual answers.”

He wouldn’t say whether he would attend a weekend memorial for the victims, but does plan to visit once he feels he would not distract from the investigation.

Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott echoed Trudeau.

“I think it’s wise not to prematurely comment in terms of the motivations. I think there’s still more information and obviously it will be followed closely.”

However, politicians were shocked to discover the existence of the group of “involuntary celibates.”

“It’s disgusting,” Conservative MP Rachael Harder said.

“Right now, we have to keep in mind that they’re speculations and so once that’s investigated and if it does come out to be true, then wow. That’s absolutely horrendous and really heartbreaking.”

Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu also weighed in. She worried that there are spaces where individuals can gather to share hateful views about women.

“I think when it comes to the digital space, I do think that the government has a role in taking more action than we’ve seen in the past to eliminate all kinds of hate speech,” she said.

“You know, there’s offensive speech and then there’s hate speech and this is definitely (hate speech).”

Others were more skeptical about the government’s ability to address such attitudes.

“There is always work to be done. Unfortunately, you know, you cannot stop the stupidity of a human being,” Deltell said.

The investigation into Monday’s incident is on-going.

With a file from Canadian Press and Marieke Walsh