Liberals are letting systemic racism persist in our justice system

NDP critic for public safety, Alistair MacGregor, made the following statement:

“A new report from the Globe and Mail has confirmed something many Indigenous and racialized Canadians already know; they are significantly less likely to be paroled in the first year they’re eligible compared to their white counterparts. It is clear that systemic racism is present in our justice system and the Liberal government must urgently address it.

Almost two years after the Prime Minister took a knee and promised action on systemic racism and Canadians are still waiting for meaningful change. Once again, the Liberals are saying the right things but are failing to back it up with concrete action.

Indigenous and racialized people have been vastly overrepresented in Canadian prisons for years. Over the past two decades, the number of Indigenous people in federal custody has been increasing, surpassing 30 per cent of the total incarcerated population in 2020 while BIPOC Canadians made up 46 per cent of the total population that same year.

New Democrats have long been calling for action to address this system which hurts Indigenous and racialized Canadians. This must include addressing the discriminatory impacts of mandatory minimum sentences, increasing funding for legal aid programs, developing culturally appropriate bail programs, increasing restorative and community justice programs and better integrating Gladue principles in court proceedings. We have also called for the development and implementation of an African Canadian Justice Strategy, which would include working with Black Canadians with experience and expertise on criminal justice issues.

New Democrats are committed to making Canada’s justice system fairer and working with advocates and community members to create a system which better serves all Canadians.”