Implement a Ban on Street Checks - Question Period

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. The Human Rights Commission's Street Check Report released today overwhelmingly confirmed that street checks are an instance of systemic racism. They damage and disrupt the lives of African Nova Scotians and other racialized people. African Nova Scotians have been saying this for decades. The report is clear. Whether it is ultimately banned or regulated, there should be an immediate moratorium now.

As the Decade for People of African Descent Committee says, street checks are illegal, and we do not regulate illegal activities. Street checks need to stop now. Will the minister tell this House that there will be a ban on street checks before this sitting is over?

HON. MARK FUREY « » : Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question. She joined us this morning for the release of Dr. Wortley's report. I want to acknowledge the content of that report we've just received; it will take some time to go through it. We do recognize that what's contained in the report is troubling. The outcomes that we're seeing are simply unacceptable, and this government will take appropriate steps with prudent analysis of the report and its findings before making any determination.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, our province has been talking about the racist impact of street checks since at least 2003. This report today was 16 years overdue. Ending street checks is at least 16 years overdue. To echo one community participant, it shouldn't take a white man from Toronto to convince government to hear what African Nova Scotians have been saying for decades. Trayvone Clayton, 20, spoke this morning about being thrown to the ground with a knee in his back as a 16-year-old leaving a party in a white neighbourhood. He asked the minister for action today. The DPAD Committee asked the minister for action today.

This information has been available for years and the situation has been known for decades. Will the minister follow the recommendation of Dr. Wortley's report and of the African Nova Scotian community and at the very least put an immediate moratorium on street checks while he determines what to do next?

MARK FUREY « » : Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear, Dr. Wortley did not phrase the findings of his report in the form of a recommendation. He presented two options with . . . (Interruptions)

THE SPEAKER « » : Order, please. The honourable Minister of Justice has the floor.

MARK FUREY « » : He presented two options, Mr. Speaker, with multiple elements to each of those options, and he has left those decisions to government and stakeholders to make. We will engage those stakeholders. I committed today to engage the communities to have a broader discussion because this review was restricted to only HRM, and none of us are naive enough to think that these circumstances don't exist in the rest of the province.

I also committed, Mr. Speaker, to directing police to cease the process of using street checks as a performance measure element, and I will give direction to police to cease the use of street checks as quota items. These behaviours are simply unacceptable, and this government will take action to correct that.