Premier Stephen McNeil apologized Tuesday for systemic racism in the justice system that has left Black and Indigenous Nova Scotians marginalized.
The provincial government said it is looking to restructure the justice system to eliminate racism and promote equality.
“Our system of justice from policing to courts to corrections has failed many members of our Black community. A system 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:
Stephen McNeil spoke on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the YMCA on Gottingen Street in Halifax. 1:31
McNeil went on to say that apologies are not enough, which is why his government is looking to “re-imagine a system of justice in Nova Scotia” where, regardless of a person’s skin colour, culture or economic background, they are treated with respect and dignity, and where everyone can feel safe.
He said there will be a restorative process to transform policing and public safety in the province. All levels of government and community groups will have to work together to make changes, he said.
To do that, a design team has been put together consisting of government officials, police, lawyers and community members who McNeil said have been empowered to design a restorative approach that will “transform public safety in Nova Scotia.”
WATCH | Why team members decided to participate:
Design team co-facilitator Jacob MacIsaac introduces two members — Crystal John, and Julia Cecchetto — who speak to why they decided to join the team. 2:12
“This restorative process will go deeper to ensure that it leads to fundamental and systemic change,” he said. “It will require significant changes to our laws, our policies and our practices. The current system is broken and the only way to fix it is to find a better way, a more just way.”
The team will ferret out problems in the justice system and over the next 18 months it will make recommendations to government about what policies, laws and government systems need to change to address systemic racism. Government will then act on those recommendations and fix problems in the system, said McNeil.
“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’s life 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 feared speaking 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.”
WATCH | N.S. premier describes mandate of new team:
McNeil describes the design team’s mandate, which he says will lead to ‘fundamental and systemic change’ to laws and policies. 1:53
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.”
‘It’s going to be a long-term thing’
Quentrel Provo, a Halifax anti-violence activist, said he thinks the province gave is “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,” he said.
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 that you have to fix,” he said.
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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