Government Apology for Systemic Racism in Criminal Justice System

Today, September 29, 2020, our Premier apologized for the systemic racism in all aspects of our criminal justice system: policing, corrections and courts. He apologized for the harm and trauma created by an unjust system.
 
To move forward, our government has announced a fundamental change in public safety. A restorative process will be taken to reform our current system.
 
A design team has been organized to begin this process, consisting of members from community, government, academia and policing. Members are from African Nova Scotian or Mi’kmaw communities or other vulnerable and marginalized group.
 
The design team will determine what is required to support the fundamental changes needed across systems and structures to secure safety and justice for all Nova Scotians. The team will carry out its work over the next 12-18 months.
 
I am so happy that our government is moving forward to create a more just justice system for all.
 
Today’s announcement adds to other measures the province has taken to improve the lives of African Nova Scotians, including:
• Count Us In, the Government’s action plan in response to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024. Nova Scotia is the only jurisdiction in North America to implement such a plan;
• The Home for Coloured Children inquiry and apology;
• Support for Africville; and
• The banning of street checks that disproportionately targeted African Nova Scotians.
 
The photo is from last September, when I attended an event celebrating the UN International Decade for People of African Descent.