QUESTION PERIOD — Justice
Canada's Black Justice Strategy
June 3, 2025
Honourable senators, my question is for Senator Gold, the Government Representative in the Senate.
I would like to start by welcoming the new members of the African Canadian Senate Group chaired by Senator Moodie. Welcome to Senators Senior, Youance and Ince. I am truly happy that there are now 10 members of that group and a truly encouraging number of Black MPs.
Despite this growing representation in Parliament, I am worried about the limited mention of priorities for Black Canadians from this new government. In the Liberal platform, there are two mentions, but there is none in the mandate letter. I would like to remind the government of the Black Justice Strategy. The African Canadian Senate Group has identified this strategy as a priority. The previous Minister of Justice was tasked with the development of this strategy in late 2022. In 2023, there was extensive consultation, and the road map was published in 2024. In February of this year, an implementation plan was released that outlined a 10-year framework to reduce Black overrepresentation in the criminal justice system.
Senator Gold, what is the government’s level of commitment to the Black Justice Strategy?
Thank you for your question. This government is acutely aware of the systemic discrimination and burdens imposed by many institutions in our country on Black Canadian communities. I want to assure you and this chamber that this government is committed to continuing to implement Canada’s Black Justice Strategy and will have more to say about that in short order.
At this point, what can we say to the diversity of Black communities in this country which are afraid of losing momentum? What more can this government say at this point to reassure them?
Thank you for your question. What I can say is that the work the government has begun to do — and is committed to doing — is being done in consultation with members of the community across the country, with communities, their leaders and with experts in the area in order to not only build a more equal and effective justice system but address the even broader systemic issues. That work will continue, and we hope that it will affect transformational change in that regard.
