Speaking Notes for The Honourable Bill Blair Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness: Appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security - Ottawa, Ontario June 23, 2020
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Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the Committee, and thank you for inviting me to be here.
Today’s meeting is happening at a highly charged moment in our society.
As we speak, important discussions are taking place across Canada, and around the world, on the issue of systemic racism in policing.
I want to thank you for choosing to examine this issue – one of the most crucial of our time.
And I’m pleased to have this opportunity to contribute to the discussion.
Shocking video footage of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police has galvanized people to take to the streets in protest.
The protest movement began south of the border, where numerous Black Americans have died over the years as a result of police violence.
But the demonstrations soon spread to Canada and elsewhere.
And they’ve forced us to take a deep and serious look at the issue of systemic racism here at home.
As the Prime Minister has said, “systemic racism is something that touches every corner of our country.”
And there is no doubt that Indigenous people, Black Canadians and other racialized people experience systemic racism and disparate outcomes within the criminal justice system.
That system includes our various municipal and provincial police services.
It also includes our national police force, the RCMP, for which I am responsible.
As you know, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki has acknowledged that “systemic racism is part of every institution, the RCMP included.”
I commend her for that.
And I support the important work she’s doing to reform the RCMP, including by increasing diversity and inclusion in its decision-making, training and recruitment.
I also want to express my profound appreciation to the members of the RCMP, who serve Canadians with integrity, dedication and professionalism every single day.
The RCMP has a Bias-Free Policing Policy that guides the actions of its members in any interaction they have with the public.
This policy is based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
It’s an important step forward.
I’d also add that the overwhelming majority of police officers in this country conduct themselves in an exemplary manner, and make every effort to minimize the use of force.
But we wouldn’t be having this discussion today if everything was perfect.
Systemic racism is a reality in Canada.
And its inherent presence in our criminal justice system is leading to unacceptable outcomes across all police forces.
Discrimination on the basis of race or as a result of any other form of bias is abhorrent.
It's also contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act.
It cannot be tolerated within policing, or any other aspect of the justice system.
As a former police officer, it pains me to acknowledge the racism that some people encounter in their interactions with law enforcement.
It certainly hits close to home for me.
But we cannot shy away from uncomfortable truths.
We must do more.
And we must do better.
Our policing services must be committed to ensuring that they’re worthy of the trust we put in them to protect us.
Maintaining that trust requires rigorous accountability.
When there appears to be any hint of misconduct – for example, when an officer appears to have exceeded their authority, used excessive force, or acted in a biased or discriminatory way – it must be quickly investigated.
And if they are found to have broken the law, they need to be held to account.
There are processes and oversight mechanisms in place to ensure this happens.
Those mechanisms are important, and I will continue to support their use.
I will also continue to speak with Indigenous leaders across the country about the disturbing incidents that have taken place over the last few weeks, as well as the newly released data on RCMP’s use of intervention options.
These discussions are critical to ensuring that our policing services serve everyone with the dignity and respect they deserve.
It’s more important than ever that we acknowledge the lived experience of those who have experienced racism or discrimination at the hands of police, and work together to put a stop to this injustice.
I will continue to engage with agencies, expert stakeholders and individuals to that end.
I also think that Canadians want to see concrete action.
That’s why I continue to pursue my mandate priorities in this area.
One of those priorities is to ensure that all officials in Canada’s law enforcement and security agencies have access to unconscious bias and cultural competency training.
Another is to co-develop a legislative framework that recognizes First Nations policing as an essential service, and ensures that police services are culturally appropriate and reflect the communities they serve.
We have already committed to investing up to $291 million under the First Nations Policing Program, which provides federal funding for professional, dedicated and culturally responsive policing services in hundreds of First Nation and Inuit communities
That federal funding commitment is ongoing and includes an annual increase to keep up with inflation, providing greater financial stability for communities.
And that’s on top of recent funding to improve police facilities in First Nation and Inuit communities, such as improving detachments and communication systems.
This means funding for 185 policing agreements under the First Nations Policing Program, policing a First Nations and Inuit population of roughly 432,000 people.
That includes support for more than 1,300 police officer positions in over 450 First Nations and Inuit communities.
I look forward to working with interested communities to expand the number that are served by First Nations policing.
I’d also like to note that the Government continues our important work to advance the Calls for Justice of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
That includes the Calls for Justice related to policing.
Following the release of the Inquiry’s interim report, for example, my Department funded reviews of police policies and practices to identify gaps and challenges in the delivery of culturally competent policing services.
The government invested up to $1.25 million over two years for four external organizations with expertise in law enforcement and policing to lead the reviews.
The reports have also made recommendations and identified tools, resources and promising practices that may be helpful in fostering a more trusting relationship and building confidence in police services.
Their final reports will be made available on the Public Safety Canada Web site in the near future.
The findings and recommendations from this review will also be an important source of information for key law enforcement partners, such as the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
Finally, Mr. Chair, we are also taking steps to increase transparency in police interactions through the adoption of body-worn cameras across the RCMP.
Body-worn video creates greater accountability, while also providing a first-person view of what a police officer encounters, often in highly dynamic and tense situations.
The RCMP piloted body-worn cameras in a number of different environments.
We're currently working on the policy framework that would support their more widespread use, and ensure that this technology is respectful of Canadians' privacy rights.
We will move forward with implementing that as quickly as possible.
There is no room for racism or discrimination of any kind in any of Canada’s law enforcement agencies and institutions.
We are working hard to make our systems more just, and have taken many steps in the right direction.
We also know there is much more work to do.
That’s why I will continue to work with Commissioner Lucki to make the RCMP a more just and accountable police service, where diverse voices and perspectives are valued and included to create a better and safer environment in the communities it serves.
I thank you once again for inviting me to appear before you today.
And I look forward to seeing the results of your deliberations on this important topic.
I’d be happy to answer your questions.
Thank you.
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