N.S. premier apologizes for systemic racism in justice system

Premier Stephen McNeil apologized Tuesday for systemic racism in the justice system that has left Black and IndigenousNova Scotians marginalized.

The provincial government said itis looking to restructure the justice system to eliminate racism and promote equality.

"Our system of justice, from policingto courts to corrections, hasfailed many members of our Black community. Asystem that is supposed to keep you safe, but because of the colour of your skin you fear it," said McNeil.

"Today, I say,'Enough.'I want you to know I hear you, I see you, I believe you, and I am sorry. On behalf of my ministers, my caucus,our government, we are sorry."

WATCH | N.S.premier apologizes to those failed by racist institutions, systems:

Nova Scotia premier apologizes for systemic racism in justice system

4 years ago

Duration 1:31

Stephen McNeil spoke on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the YMCA on Gottingen Street in Halifax.

McNeilsaidhis government is looking to "reimagine a system of justice in Nova Scotia."To do that, a design team has been put togetherconsisting of government officials, police, lawyersand community memberswhoMcNeil said have been empowered tocreatea restorative approach that will "transform public safety in Nova Scotia."

A report last year found Black people in Halifax were subjected to street checks six times as often as white people. Last October,Nova Scotia's justice minister saidhe would permanently ban street checks after a review concludedthepractice is illegal.

Nova Scotia's Public Prosecution Serviceunveiled a policy last yearto ensure Indigenous people are treated fairly in light of statistics showing Indigenous people make up less than three per cent of Nova Scotia's population, but eight to 10 per cent of people in custody.

High-profile incidentsin Nova Scotia include an arrest earlier this year by theHalifax Regional Police thatleft a Black woman, Santina Rao, with a broken wrist, concussion and bruising. Charges against Rao were later dropped.

In February, a Black teenager was hurt when police arrested him outside a Bedford mall. Police did not chargethe boy with anything.Nova Scotia's Serious Incident Response Team, the province's police watchdog, is investigating the arrest.

WATCH |15-year-old records arrest, says he was racially profiled by Halifax police

Boy, 15, records his own arrest outside Bedford Place Mall

5 years ago

Duration 0:23

Troylena Dixon posted this video taken by her son who was arrested outside the Bedford, N.S., shopping mall on Feb. 21, 2020.

Team to hold government to account: McNeil

McNeil said the designteam will ferret out problems in the justice system and over the next 18 months will make recommendations to government about what policies, laws and government systems need to change to address systemic racism. Governmentwill then act on those recommendations and fix problems, he said.

"We'll be held to account, or governments will be held to account by the design team and community," he said. "Even though the design team'slife may be 18 months, the work will certainly go well beyond that and,quite honestly, it will be a lifetime of work, of continually ensuring that our systems are not racist."

One of the members of the design team is Martin Morrison,the regional co-ordinator of African Canadian Education for the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education.

"What compels me to participate in this work is the African Nova Scotian community has never fearedspeaking truth to power, and this is a legacy that I am proud to be a part of," Morrison said.

"Given the incidents of racism captured on video, including the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent global Black Lives Matter and anti-Black racism movement, now is a moment for action.

"It is my hope through this process that our respective institutions will listen, acknowledge and respond to these inequities negatively impacting our children and families. My children and my families."

Also a member of the team is Candace Thomas, the deputy minister of the Department of Justice, deputy attorney general and deputy minister of the Office of Social Innovation and Integrative Approaches.

"I normally put very little stock in apologies. But I found my heart racing when the premier was speaking," she said.

"Government, law enforcement and community are coming together to collectively do the right thing, designing the road map for meaningful systemic change towards racial justice in public safety in this province."

WATCH | Whyteam members decided to participate:

'This is an action moment:' Why N.S. restorative justice design team members chose to participate

4 years ago

Duration 2:12

Design team co-facilitator Jacob MacIsaac introduces two members Crystal John, and Julia Cecchetto who speak to why they decided to join the team.

Lindell Smith, a Halifax regional councillor, was namedas a member of the design team butsaid on Twitter he did not agree to having his name attached to the province's press release.

"I cannot support this initiative without discussing the terms of reference for the design committee, structure of that committee and how the broader community organizations focused on community well-being for our Black and Indigenous communities will be included," Smith tweeted on Tuesday.

"We need to ensure that any process that looks at how systemic racism has affected Black and Indigenous communities provides clear outcomes in partnership with our communities."

CBC News was unable to immediately reach Smith for further comment on Tuesday.

McNeil said onCBC's Power and Politics Tuesday eveningthat Smithhad attended at least one meeting.

"I talked to Lindell at the first design committee meeting he was at, he said he was all in and he looked forward to it," McNeilsaid.

"But I want to tell you Lindell is an important part of this conversation. So are so many other members of thecommunity who were there today adding their voice."

'It's going to be a long-term thing'

Quentrel Provo, a Halifaxanti-violence activist, said he thinks the province gave"a good apology." He said he wants to know more about what actions will be taken.

"As a Black man being able to sit in on a few cases, you can see the systemic issues with the justice system that has affected so many lives."

Provo said whatever changes are made will take time.

"A lot of people got to understand that's not going to take a year, two years it's going to be a long-term thing because this is decades of systemic issues thatyou have to fix."

RCMP Sgt. Craig Smith, aboard member of theBlack Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, said the apologywas hopeful and historic.

The premier is "definitely taking the bull by the horns on that one and said, 'OK, we're going to reimagine that in Nova Scotia,' " Smith said.

"And maybe this becomes the starting place and the model for what happens, you know, nationally or internationally."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

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