A Trudeau government-appointed committee is calling for radical reforms to the criminal justice system as part of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy.
The external steering group for the Black Justice Strategy issued 114 recommendations from an “anti-racist” lens for the federal government to pursue in combating so-called systemic racism against black Canadians.
Having the government appoint a committee to explore paying black Canadians reparations for slavery and segregation, creating courts specifically for black offenders, and rolling back drug possession laws, are just some of the recommendations included in the report.
The strategy’s stated pillars include addressing so-called “social determinants of justice,” reducing over-policing, focusing on court reform and legislative changes, as well as correctional reentry and integration to reduce recidivism rates.
The strategy calls on the government to reduce the rate of incarceration for black people by 30% relative to the population by 2034. The report also recommends that the government cut incarceration rates of black and Indigenous Canadians by 50% by releasing individuals currently held in custody and arresting fewer black people.
The steering committee recommended that the government establish a committee of black academics and community leaders to study options for reparations to black Canadians for slavery, segregation, and racially biased laws.
The report also recommends that black Canadians be given preferential treatment to a variety of government programs. This includes creating black-specific job programs, prioritizing black Canadians for apprenticeship and entrepreneur programs, and prioritizing black people in Canada’s national housing strategy.
The Ministry of Justice did not respond to a request for comment from True North about whether it would be accepting any of the report’s recommendations.
Special attention is given to reforming criminal law around drug possession offenses. The steering committee recommended that the government get rid of drug possession penalties for up to a 30-day supply of the given drug, grant automatic record suspension for all possession related offences, and expand “safe supply” programs in black communities.
The steering committee placed a great emphasis on expanding anti-racism training for prosecutors, judges, the police and expanding anti-racism curriculum in schools.
The steering committee made a series of seemingly unrelated recommendations, including a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $21 an hour and establish a universal basic income program.
In December 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered the creation of a black justice strategy in light of the murder of Minnesota man George Floyd in May 2020.
In February 2023, the Trudeau government created the external steering committee, a group of eight anti-racism academics and activists tasked with providing the government recommendations in the development of their Black Justice Strategy.
The members include Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, Zilla Jones, Fernando Belton, Vanessa Fells, Mandela Kuet, Sandra Muchekeza, Suzanne Taffot, and Moya Teklu.