The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the criminal justice system keeps all Canadians, their families, and communities safe.
Day: February 18, 2021
The Fall Economic Statement (FES) proposes a number of important investments to address systemic racism in the criminal justice system. The FES funding would provide much needed support for organizations and programs that help address the inequities faced by Indigenous peoples, Black and racialized Canadians in the criminal justice, with the goal of creating a fair and more effective criminal justice system for all. These initiatives would help support the proposed legislation to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Bill C-22.
On February 18, 2021, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, introduced proposed amendments to the Criminal Code and to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. One objective of this Bill is to repeal mandatory minimum penalties (MMPs) for certain offences, including drug offences, which have not deterred crime but have resulted in disproportionate outcomes for Indigenous people, as well as Black Canadians and members of marginalized communities.
The Government recognizes that there is systemic racism in Canada’s criminal justice system. We have heard Canadians, the courts and criminal justice experts, and seen the evidence of the disproportionate representation of Indigenous peoples, as well as Black Canadians in the criminal justice system. The proposed legislation would ensure courts can continue to impose tough sentences on violent and serious crimes without the disproportionate impact on Indigenous peoples, as well as Black Canadians and members of marginalized communities.
Social, economic, cultural, institutional and historical inequities contribute to the overrepresentation of Indigenous people, Black Canadians and marginalized populations, including those living with substance abuse and mental health challenges, in the criminal justice system.