Summit on racial
profiling unites decision makers and police leadership on commitment to
action
Lincoln
Alexander calls for follow-up report in 3 months
Chief of Toronto Police Julian
Fantino speaks to the members of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada.
The Chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), the
Hon. Lincoln Alexander, expressed both appreciation and optimism at the
conclusion of Summit on Policing, Race Relations and Racial Profiling. The
day after the release of a report by the Toronto Star that presented data
corroborating differential treatment of many members of the Black
community by police, Alexander called for a summit meeting of the
political and police leadership to have a frank and mature dialogue on the
issue.
“I invite those with the power to make the changes that are
needed, and the fact that they all participated is testimony to their
commitment to find constructive solutions. They knew that was why they
were invited,” said Alexander, a former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
“Even before I had personally extended an invitation, most had publicly
indicated their willingness to meet. The only one who couldn’t attend
because of a previous commitment was the Premier; but he has invited me to
meet with him to review the results and recommendations arising from the
Summit, and I will do so at his earliest convenience,” added Alexander.
Present at the Summit were Secretary of State, Hon. Jean Augustine,
Ontario Minister of Public Safety and Security, Hon. Robert Runciman,
Mayor Mel Lastman, Chair of the Police Services Board, Norm Gardner,
Bromley Armstrong, former Ontario Human Rights Commissioner and long-time
community activist; Chief Julian Fantino, Toronto Police Service;
Assistant Commissioner Ken Byrt, R.C.M.P.; Commissioner Gwen Boniface,
O.P.P.; Chief Thomas Kaye, President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs
of Police, Craig Bromell, President of the Toronto Police Association; and
David Mitchell, President of the Association of Black Law Enforcers. Each
participant was accompanied by one staff member.
In his opening remarks, Alexander thanked the many groups and
individuals that had come out to meetings convened by the Toronto Police
Chief and the Chair of the Police Services Board, and he stressed the
importance of community consultation and involvement. “I’m not
expecting a miracle… trust will not be achieved instantly,” Alexander
told the participants in the Summit, “but what happens from here on must
demonstrate that we are doing everything in our power to improve the
situation… we are trying to create a climate of equality, justice, trust
and respect. There have already been too many reports and too few
recommendations implemented.”
“We had hoped to achieve agreement on the recommendations where
there appears to be consensus in the community, including the
re-establishment of an independent civilian oversight of the complaints
process; zero tolerance for racism and racial profiling, with appropriate
training and monitoring in this regard, and support for community groups
struggling to resolve these issues with police, including ensuring the
voice of our youth is heard,” explained Alexander. He addressed the
issue of the seriousness of violent crime perpetrated by a minority in the
community that was terrorizing the rest, but specified that it was not the
topic of the meeting. Alexander cautioned against stereotyping and
criminalizing the whole community, and challenged the police to treat
violent crime the way they would with any community, while ensuring the
protection and security of the community.