N.S. premier apologizes for systemic racism in justice system

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:

McNeil went on to say that apologies are not enough, which is why his government is looking to "reimagine 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 create a restorative approach that will "transform public safety in Nova Scotia."

A report last year found Black people in Halifax were subjected to street checks six times as often as white people. Nova Scotia's Public Prosecution Service unveiled a policy last year to ensure Indigenous people are treated fairly in light of statistics showing Indigenous people make up less than three per cent of Nova Scotia's population, but eight to 10 per cent of people in custody.

Some specific incidents include an arrest earlier this year by the Halifax Regional Police that left a Black woman with a broken wrist, concussion and bruising. Charges against the woman were later dropped. In February, a Black teenager was hurt when police arrested him outside a Bedford mall. Police did not charge the boy with anything. Nova Scotia's Serious Incident Response Team, the province's police watchdog, is investigating the arrest.

WATCH | Why team members decided to participate:

Team to ferret out problems

"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 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, 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:

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."

Lindell Smith, a Halifax regional councillor, was named as a member of the design team but said on Twitter he did not agree to having his name attached to the province's press release.

"I cannot support this initiative without discussing the terms of reference for the design committee, structure of that committee and how the broader community organizations focused on community well-being for our Black and Indigenous communities will be included," Smith tweeted on Tuesday.

"We need to ensure that any process that looks at how systemic racism has affected Black and Indigenous communities provides clear outcomes in partnership with our communities."

CBC News was unable to immediately reach Smith for further comment on Tuesday.

McNeil said on CBC's Power and Politics Tuesday evening that Smith had attended at least one meeting.

"I talked to Lindell at the first design committee meeting he was at, he said he was all in and he looked forward to it," McNeil said.

"But I want to tell you Lindell is an important part of this conversation. So are so many other members of the community who were there today adding their voice."

'It's going to be a long-term thing'

Quentrel Provo, a Halifax anti-violence activist, said he thinks the province gave "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."

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."

RCMP Sgt. Craig Smith, a board member of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, said the apology was hopeful and historic.

The premier is "definitely taking the bull by the horns on that one and said, 'OK, we're going to reimagine that in Nova Scotia,' " Smith said.

"And maybe this becomes the starting place and the model for what happens, you know, nationally or internationally."

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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