Additional Priority Areas

Below is a brief summary of 4 additional themes in which those consulted in the engagement sessions commonly raised concerns: Victims/Survivors, Data Collection, Funding, and Ongoing Consultation/Shifts in Ideological and Organizational Practices.

Victims/Survivors

Participants reported experiences of double victimization. The first stage involves being a victim of a civilian offender, the second stage involves being ignored or abused by the police or the legal process. Nevertheless, there are barely any unique post-incident supports (physical, emotional and mental) tailored to Black people to respond to either form of victimization. Community members spoke about experiencing community harm and the need for stronger support mechanisms for victims of crime. Community members in Ontario shared:

“Speaking from the heart of our community, we've all experienced victimization and witnessed crimes.”

“As a collective, we've endured the loss of too many young souls, and we're still processing that pain, which often goes unrecognized.”

“Our mothers are traumatized too, yet they're often scared to ask for help.”

“Even with our school systems, students who have lost loved ones, they receive little support.”

As a participant who completed the survey stated, there is a need to “hold those in power responsible to implement, follow up, and break the cycle of these issues.” Those consulted developed several recommendations to address these issues which are outlined in the section “Additional Recommendations”, under “Fund, identify, create, and maintain supports for Black victims and survivors of crime”.

Data Collection

The engagement sessions revealed that Black people in Canada have complicated feelings about race-based data collection. Approaches to data collection and data use have historically marginalized Black communities, perpetuated anti-Black sentiments across Canadian society, and led to policy changes that increased harm their communities experienced. Participants argued that there is a need for deeper engagement with Black communities to understand their perspectives in order to develop culturally responsive approaches to data collection and use with and for Black communities. At the same time, participants felt “data fatigue”, “research fatigue”, or “over-consulted”. They stressed that this feeling has arisen through recounting their emotionally-taxing, painful, and traumatic episodes in the justice system for governmental initiatives which do not seem to amount to any meaningful difference in their lives or communities. They often do not receive updates on progress, they do not feel consulted after sharing their stories. They feel excluded. That being said, there was consensus that without data, the inequities they know exist through lived experience are not seen as real or legitimate by those without lived experience. As a community member in Alberta succinctly stated:

“A problem you cannot measure is a problem you cannot solve.”

Participants highlighted several areas in which to improve the data collection process for Black people. First, as noted above they were deeply frustrated and disappointed that data collected is not used to generate long-lasting policy and practical changes. Alongside research fatigue, there is community anger about a lack of change that they can see and feel in their communities. Community members in Québec said:

“We need, as -- said, policies and decisions that will outlast time.”

“I'm telling you that reports and data like this [appear] over and over and over. Why do you think it's gonna make a difference this time? Because we've done this.”

“And also, we need to implement all of the recommendations from the correctional officers as a reportFootnote 15. There was a report that strongly talks about the plight of Blacks in the federal prisons. It has maybe more than 30 recommendations targeted to Blacks. These recommendations need to be implemented.”

“How are we implementing these recommendations? Who implements them and who keeps people in check? Because since 2020, they waved at us a bunch of money, a bunch of recommendations, a bunch of strategies, but we see barely anything changing in our communities. And we talk about this, we saw 2020 as a huge wave of mobilization and it's dying down from, it's sad to say, but it is that dying down. The energy and the plans, working in an institution, the action plans are on four years. And after four years, we don't know if it's going to get renewed. We're going to need another drama to have that type of attention.”

“And we've been over-consulted. We're at the end of the international decade of people of African descent. It's ending next year, and it's now that the federal level is pushing us within 30-day bracket to come up with recommendations. They are afraid to put them in place because it will cost them their place in government. But we need recommendations that would outlast this government so that they're not stripped from us when the conservatives will take power, because they will. Right?”

Participants were also frustrated that findings from data collected is not shared in a timely manner, feedback opportunities are rare, and implementation seems to consistently be delayed. A community member in Québec said:

“One of my favorite concepts is policy coherence when it comes to Black Canadians. I feel like on one hand, last year, there were announcements of funding for different Black organizations. And then I know, right now, there's a huge debate on bail reform, and how it might disproportionately impact Black Canadians. And there aren’t even proper consultations on things that are implemented, right away. There's not proper consultations, but then for things that take a long time, actually consultations in general, I feel oftentimes the government will drag things out for no reason and will delay implementing things that are very much needed.”

Participants also stressed that there is often a lack of transparency in how data will be used:

“Data collection is a tricky one, because we're not trusting of where that information is gonna go, or what it's going to be used for. I mean, even though you said, Okay, this, we're doing this research, and we collect this information. People are reluctant to answer those questions and stuff like that. And I do understand that. However, you know, if we don't have the data, you know, to the government and whatnot, the issues or concerns don't exist.”

Participants were also frustrated by a lack of funding for Black-led research on data that is collected:

“There should be kind of a compensation mechanism to give us a voice through a mechanism where there's seed money put by government, so we can have, like a group and be able to, like research, policy and advocacy.” (Community member in Québec)

In addition to funding for data collection, participants advocated that there needs to be sustained funding for community partnerships and policy initiatives designed to address the problems revealed by data collected. The set of recommendations put forth by those consulted across engagement sessions can be found in the section “Additional Recommendations”, under “Data collection”.

Funding

Community partner participants highlighted the lack of sustained funding for their initiatives. They also cited barriers to carrying out their work:

“I do agree with the fact that there are, you know, a lot of Black organizations that receive minimal funding. And there are certain mandates, and there has to be an accountability piece there. But also, understanding that, unfortunately, when you are receiving federal, provincial or municipal grants, you almost have your hands tied, in a sense of, I want to make the statement, but now you're accountable for like, you know, you're playing this game with these individuals that are funding you. And I think it becomes - it's a disadvantage, so maybe perhaps we need to look at [that] where funding these organizing organizations is concerned, looking to see outside of government support. So you kind of free yourself from those bondages because that's what, in my experience, that's what has happened.” (Community member in Québec)

This excerpt illustrates the importance of developing new models for funding structures. Governments should support community organizations working to fix societal issues in a way that allows them to remain independent. Governments must also be open and accepting of critique. Participants highlighted that sustained funding is essential for ensuring supports that people can count on and that last. The recommendations for sustained funding can be found in the section “Additional Recommendations”, under “Sustain funding, commitment, resources, and supports”.

Ongoing Consultation and Shift Governmental Organizational and Ideological Principles

Participants noted a wide scale need to recognize the impacts of racism and discrimination in institutions on Black people. Community members and partners in British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada asserted:

“There needs to be a recognition that the current institutions were built on racism and colonial ideology. These systems are based on racism and discrimination, they are doing what they were created to do.”

“Anti-Black racism is embedded in institutions, policies, processes and the everyday systems that Black individuals maneuver. It is also embedded in people's psyche and together these contribute to the overrepresentation of Black individuals in the criminal justice system.”

“The Justice system needs to recognize the historical and current injustices faced by Black people and the impacts it has on our communities. The starting point is acceptance of the truth of the foundations of all of these institutions. Only then can we truly engage in meaningful reform and transformation.”

Participants also highlighted the need for Black people to be included in decision-making processes and positions:

“Create opportunities for Black folks to be around decision-making tables on justice matters to reduce institutional biases and support fair decision-making processes.” (Community member, location unknown)

Overall participants felt that acknowledgement of the existence of systemic racism across all governmental bodies was a meaningful first step to addressing the social determinants of justice and systemic racism throughout justice systems. They also felt that increasing the representation of Black people throughout decision-making roles and process would help ensure that policies and practices are grounded in lived experience and cultural, academic, and policy-based knowledge. As a community partner in Ontario stated there should be “nothing for us, without us.” The recommendations for ongoing consultation and ideological/organizational shifts are in the sections “Additional Recommendations”, under “Ongoing consultation and inclusion with the Black community” and “Shift governmental organizational and ideological principles”.