Legislative Reform

• Author: David M. Tanovich
• Pages: 171-183

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Legislative Reform

It is time for our governments to act. There is now compelling

evidence that racial prof‌iling is a serious problem in Canada, one

that is jeopardizing the physical and psychological integrity and

dignity of racialized communities across this country. It is also

clear t hat police a nd secu rity forces have no inte ntion of ta king

the necessary steps to determine whether, and to what extent, ra-

cial prof‌iling is a problem within a part icular police service. No

police chie f, for example, has agreed to follow t he lead of Ch ief

Closs of the Kingston Police. Consequently, the burden falls on

the shoulders of our elected off‌icials to take action. Our govern-

ments have a moral and constitutional obligation to act, and, in

addition, international law commitments demand it. Canada is a

signatory to the International Convention on the Elimination of All

Forms of Racial Discrimination.1 Article 2 of the Inte rnationa l Con-

vention mandates that all State Parties “undert ake to pursue by all

appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating racial

discrimination in all its forms …” Canada is also a signatory to the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.2 Article 4 of

the Covenant is par ticularly signif‌icant in that it permits State Par-