The OHRC’s finding of systemic racial discrimination, racial profiling, and anti-Black racism in policing in Toronto is not controversial. It has been experienced by Black communities for decades and acknowledged by the TPS and TPSB.
To ensure real change, the TPS and TPSB must commit to effective and expeditious legally binding enforcement measures. The decades of reports and calls for action from Black communities show that if the TPSB and TPS are committed to change, they must legally bind themselves to that change.
The need for a legally binding commitment does not imply that the TPS or TPSB will otherwise act in bad faith. Instead, it is a recognition that the systemic changes required to fully address anti-Black racism and discrimination in policing are significant and will necessarily come into conflict with entrenched aspects of the status quo. Legally binding enforcement measures will ensure the changes proposed here are adopted and implemented, even when short-term pressures may weigh against them.
The OHRC’s final report on its Inquiry into anti-Black racism by the Toronto Police Service sets out a path of meaningful actions that will change outcomes for Black communities.
A path informed by:
- OHRC’s findings
- research into best practices
- engagement with Black communities, organizations, and community leaders
- subject matter experts, and
- the TPS, TPSB and TPA
A path that the TPS and TPSB must be held accountable to follow. A path that will build trust between Toronto police and Black communities.
Anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination exist in society broadly. The TPS and TPSB cannot eliminate all discrimination in society, but they can – and the Code requires them to – make sure their own work does not create or perpetuate the disadvantage experienced by Black people. Policies, procedures, and accountability mechanisms must be adopted and strengthened to ensure the conduct of police narrows the gap between Black people and the rest of society, rather than widening it.
The OHRC believes that by adopting its recommendations, the TPS and TPSB can provide policing services in a way that complies with the Code.
This report is the first of its kind. It combines hard data with the lived experiences of Black communities, chronicling the extensive and long-standing harm suffered by Black people and communities as a result of discriminatory policing over the past decade, and for many years prior.
The impacts of such harm at a societal level are incalculable. The evidence of systemic racial discrimination and anti-Black racism cannot be ignored. The TPS and TPSB have the opportunity to take decisive action to do their part to end this cycle. They have the opportunity to build trust with the communities they serve, and move From Impact to Action.