Corrections - Black Nova Scotions - Question Period

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. Through freedom of information requests, our caucus received a demographic profile of adult individuals in provincial correctional facilities. On April 1, 2019, 13 per cent of adults in provincial facilities identified as African Nova Scotian or Black. However, Black people make up less than 3 per cent of our provincial population. Clearly something is wrong here.

Mr. Speaker, what concrete steps has the Minister taken over six years in government to address the overrepresentation of Black people in Corrections?

HON. MARK FUREY » : I thank my colleague for the question. A number of steps have been taken within Corrections in our facilities' program services, Mr. Speaker, recently hiring complete graduate classes of African Nova Scotians, hiring of Aboriginal members.

There are strategies that speak specifically to these issues and Correction Services applying those, both through human resource hiring and program delivery within our facilities, Mr. Speaker.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, the strategy put forward more than any other is ending street checks. In March, a Human Rights Commission report found that African Nova Scotians are six times more likely to be street-checked by police than white people.

Report author Dr. Scot Wortley writes that a small degree of racial bias at each stage of the criminal justice funnel can result in gross racial disparities within the correctional system. Our province has been talking about the racist impact of street checks since 2003. Ending street checks is at least 16 years overdue.

Mr. Speaker, will the minister finally commit to taking decisive action to put a permanent end to the racist practice of street checks?

MARK FUREY « » : Mr. Speaker, my colleague would know that when the Wortley report was released, I immediately took steps to ban street checks. That moratorium is in place. I think that, in itself, addresses what has commonly been referred to as carding.

As well, through the feedback of the Wortley report, it was identified that street checks - the data, the numbers - were being used for performance measures within law enforcement communities. I gave a directive that forbade that to happen into the future.

I have said publicly that, when used appropriately, street checks are a valuable tool for investigations and public safety in our communities.

THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.