Given the pervasive nature of systemic racism in policing in Canada, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (the Committee) has concluded that a transformative national effort is required to ensure that all Indigenous, Black and other racialized people in Canada are not subject to the discrimination and injustice that is inherent in the system as it exists today. The Committee held 19 meetings and heard from 53 witnesses, including those representing community organizations providing services to, or advocating on behalf of, racialized communities and Indigenous peoples; academics studying law, policing, and racism; and members and leaders of Canadian police services and police organizations. From among the diverse witnesses heard there was resounding acknowledgement of the reality of systemic racism in policing in Canada and an expressed interest in finding solutions to the urgent problems contributing to systemic racism to pave a new way forward.

The Committee heard testimony and received briefs detailing several aspects of systemic racism in policing. Witnesses described that Indigenous police services that can contribute to the self-determination and empowerment of their communities lack resources and support. Witnesses pointed to the over-representation of Indigenous and racialized people within the criminal justice system and described over-policing, practices of racial profiling and discriminatory use of force against these populations. The Committee heard that Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ2S+ people are particularly impacted by systemic discrimination in policing, experiencing both over-policing and under-policing (i.e. a lack of police assistance) when they are the victims of criminal acts. Evidence was heard about the intersection between race and mental health and the need to provide culturally appropriate and evidence-based crisis intervention programs to meet the needs of persons in crisis.

The Committee was told that accountability, oversight and transparency are critical to restore trust with Indigenous and racialized communities subject to systemic racism. Witnesses also emphasized the need for the collection of disaggregated race-based data to provide Canadians with an accurate picture of the impact of police practices and policies on Indigenous and racialized people. Changes to the structure and governance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada’s national police service, were recommended by witnesses to promote modernization, professionalization and civilianization. The Committee heard concerns about the lack of diversity and representativeness of some Canadian police services and what the Hon. Justice Michel Bastarache described as a “toxic”[1] culture within the RCMP.

To address the urgent problems identified by witnesses the Committee has provided 42 recommendations aimed at fundamentally reforming Canadian policing to ensure that all Canadians can access police services free from racism and other forms of discrimination.