Black Canadian justice strategy still in the works, as advocates call for reform
The federal government is being urged to follow through with its commitment to develop a Black Canadian justice strategy.
The Liberal government committed to creating such a strategy in the 2021 election campaign after advocacy groups and the United Nations raised serious concerns over anti-Black racism in the Canadian criminal justice system.
Black Canadians are consistently overrepresented in Canadian jails: Black people make up less than four per cent of the Canadian population but about eight per cent of the federal prison population.
Justice Minister David Lametti's office said he is working with members of Black communities to develop the strategy and will have "more to say on this soon."
"The priority in doing so is for Black Canadians to have access to fair and just treatment before the law," said Lametti's press secretary, Diana Ebadi, in a written statement.
"Canada's Black Justice Strategy will put us on a path toward a more just and equitable society by addressing systemic discrimination and the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system, including as victims of crime."
According to the Black Legal Action Centre, police are more likely to stop, search, charge and arrest Black people. Police are also more likely to use force or seriously injure Black people.
The House of Commons public safety committee said in a 2021 report that systemic racism in policing was a "real and pressing problem to be urgently addressed."
It recommended creating a national strategy to address the disproportionately high rates of racialized people in the criminal justice system.
Mukisa Kakembo, a lawyer with prisoner advocacy group PATH legal in Nova Scotia, said it is important the federal government recognizes racism is systemic and it is one of the reasons why Black Canadians are overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
"It's important to have a strategy that recognizes that and actually takes tangible steps to address that racism and counteract the racism," she said.
Kakembo said the strategy needs to include better oversight of police and courts to make sure instances of racism are properly reported and treated seriously.
She said steps should also be taken to remove Black people who are currently in prisons and jails.
"If we can acknowledge that Black people are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, then I think action needs to be taken to rectify that," she said.
She said that can be done by ensuring more people are granted bail with fewer conditions attached once they are released, and by reducing the over-surveillance of Black communities by police.
"Deciding whether a case moves forward or not is up to Crown discretion," she said. "Crowns need to be actively anti-racist in their decision to prosecute, and also be aware of referring Black accused to diversion programs and trying to resolve charges outside of the criminal justice system."
There have long been calls to improve the system, including by the Parliamentary Black Caucus. In 2020, it released a statement calling on the federal government to implement a Black Canadian justice strategy.
In 2016, a UN expert panel warned it had serious concerns about systemic anti-Black racism in Canadian courts and recommended developing a strategy as well.
"There is clear evidence that racial profiling is endemic in the strategies and practices used by law enforcement," Ricardo Sunga, the head of the expert panel, said in a statement at the time.
Matthew Green, an NDP MP and member of the Parliamentary Black Caucus, said the legal system does not provide full, fair, equal justice to Black Canadians and it is not good enough for the federal government to just announce money to address the issue.
"This is a government that, come election time, speaks at length around issues pertaining to justice and equity and equality," he said.
"And yet, when it comes to actually providing policies that result in meaningful outcomes, they seem to fall short."
Kakembo said a Black Canadian justice strategy needs to also measure the action that has been taken.
"There needs to be a system of analysis of actually completing what the strategy sets out to complete, and an analysis for when that is completed," she said.
In a statement celebrating February as Black History Month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the strategy is part of "work that still needs to be done."
"(The strategy) will help address systemic discrimination and the overrepresentation of members of Black communities in our criminal justice system," the statement said.
----------
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2023.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.
Local Spotlight
Fergus, Ont. man feels nickel-and-dimed for $0.05 property tax bill
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
'I'm committed': Oilers fan won't cut hair until Stanley Cup comes to Edmonton
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
'It's not my father's body!' Wrong man sent home after death on family vacation in Cuba
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
'Once is too many times': Education assistants facing rising violence in classrooms
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
What is capital gains tax? How is it going to affect the economy and the younger generations?
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
UBC football star turning heads in lead up to NFL draft
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.
Cat found at Pearson airport 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.