On December 14, 2023, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released From Impact to Action: Final report into anti-Black racism by the Toronto Police Service. The OHRC’s findings were clear: systemic racial discrimination, racial profiling, and anti-Black racism are within the Toronto Police Service (TPS). Systemic discrimination and racial profiling infringe human rights and have a harmful impact on to Black communities.
The OHRC initiated this inquiry under its authority of the Human Rights Code (Code) to help identify and promote the elimination of discriminatory practices and anti-Black racism in policing. This problem has been recognized and documented for decades. The Code, which has primacy over all provincial legislation in Ontario, prohibits discrimination in several areas of service, including policing.
The report includes over 100 recommendations to tackle systemic racial discrimination, with meaningful actions for the TPS and the Toronto Police Service Board (TPSB) to improve outcomes for Black communities. It also recommends that the TPS and the TPSB work with the OHRC to develop a legally enforceable framework to guide the implementation of the recommendations.
“The findings of the inquiry were clear: Black people face systemic discrimination, racial profiling and anti-Black racism in policing,” said Patricia DeGuire, Chief Commissioner. “While some progress has been made over the past two years, the OHRC calls on the TPS and the TPSB to accelerate efforts to address anti-Black racism, finalize the implementation framework, and deliver on the promise of systemic change.”
Community involvement is essential for transparency and accountability, ensuring lasting change in addressing anti-Black racism in policing.
The need for immediate action, transparency, and accountability was affirmed in the TPSB’s recent report, “What We Heard, Insights Informing the Strategic Plan for Policing in Toronto.” That report notes that Black communities continue to voice concerns regarding racial profiling.
Guided by the Code, the OHRC remains steadfast in its commitment to work with the TPS, the TPSB, and Black communities to address anti-Black racism and to ensure the recommendations in the report lead to real, measurable progress.