Racism and Racial Profiling
Background Documents
OCASI is concerned about ongoing racial profiling by police services across Ontario and at Canadian ports of entry.
Various reports, such as the 2005 Kingston Data Collection Project, the 2003 Ontario Human Rights Commission report on Racial Profiling and the 2002 Toronto Star analysis of Toronto Police statistics have also reported the same findings. They found that residents of African/Black origin receive harsher treatment than White residents, and are over represented in Police statistics of charges and arrests.
Recent immigrants and refugees arriving in Canada are increasingly from racialized communities, and they must have the confidence that they would not face discrimination from police or other security and government services. They and all residents in this province are entitled to protection under Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As such, all residents should receive the clear and unequivocal assurance that the Ontario government will act immediately to address racial profiling and any other form of discriminatory practice. The practice of racial profiling is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Related Updates
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21st, 2007 marks the 41st anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
March 21, 2007
Report on State of Racism in Canada
OCASI, MTCSALC and SALCO submit a joint report on the state of racism in Canada, to the United Nations CERD Committee.
February 14, 2007
Racial Profiling Of Black Youth Is Not The Answer To Gun Violence
The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) condemns Toronto City Councillor Michael Thompson's comments that police should target young black men in order to find illegal guns.
August 19, 2005
Racial Discrimination in Canada - The Status of Compliance by the Canadian Government with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Prepared by the National Anti-Racism Council of Canada ( NARCC ) to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Committee - July 2002.
July 29, 2005
Ontario Government Response to OCASI's Call to End Racial Profiling
In May 2005, we sent a letter to the Attorney General, Michael Bryant, urging the Ontario government to to take concrete steps to eliminate racial profiling.
July 28, 2005
Community Groups call for national consultation process on Canada's Action Plan Against Racism
OCASI is a signatory to a letter with other anti-racism community groups and organizations, calling on the federal government to engage in a timely national consultation process that is inclusive, open and transparent and equitably accessible.
July 19, 2005
New racism policy falls short
The newly released policy on racism does not go far enough to state that racism in any form is unacceptable and must be eliminated.
July 19, 2005
OCASI Response to Speech from the Throne
OCASI is deeply concerned that anti-racism and equity for immigrants and refugees received barely a nod in the Speech from the Throne.
July 13, 2005
Racial Profiling Issue Raised in the House of Commons
The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) extends appreciation to Joe Comartin for raising concerns regarding racial profiling at the border.
July 13, 2005
Racial Profiling of Canadians
OCASI calls on both the Federal and Ontario Provincial levels of government to demonstrate how and when they will act to protect all Canadians from racial profiling by law enforcement and immigration officials.
July 13, 2005
African Canadian Community Open Letter to Ernie Eves, Premier of Ontario
The Toronto Star recently released a series of reports validating what the African Canadian community has known for some time: African Canadians are subjected to racial profiling by the police more than any other racialized group.
July 12, 2005
Coalition Calls on Premier to Act on Racial Profiling Report
OHRC report on Racial Profiling Inquiry demands swift action from government. "Our citizenship is diminished through racial profiling", says Debbie Douglas, OCASI Executive Director.
July 12, 2005
Community Groups Call on Toronto City Council to Defeat Motion on Toronto Police Services Board decision
Community organizations hold a press conference today (July 21, 2004) to call on City Councillors to respect the decision of Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB).
July 12, 2005
National Identity Card
OCASI Submission to the Parliamentary Standing committee on Citizenship and Immigration on February 10, 2003.
July 12, 2005
OCASI Asks Ontario Government To Act To End Racial Profiling
OCASI writes to Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant, in response to the preliminary findings of the Kingston Data Collection Project conducted by the Kingston Police.
July 12, 2005
OCASI Response to Bob Runciman
OCASI urges Bob Runciman, Minister of Public Safety and Security to meet with leaders Ontario's African Canadian Community to build bridges necessary to develop trust between the communities, Ontario government and Police Services.
July 12, 2005
OHRC Releases report on Racial Profiling Inquiry
OHRC Report on Racial Profiling Inquiry finds that racial profiling is a pervasive problem that exists at all levels of government and in the private sector.
July 12, 2005
Toronto Police Services and Racial Profiling
A coalition of over 30 organizations including OCASI and some of its member agencies came together to call on the Premier to take a leadership role in responding to the findings of the Toronto Star.
July 12, 2005