The recent death of Chantel Moore in New Brunswick has sparked a national conversation about the issue of police brutality in Canada. While this is an unfortunate tragedy, it is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a much larger problem.
To address this important issue, we must first understand the systemic racism and colonial violence that underlies police brutality in Canada.
The Roots of Police Brutality in Canada
Police brutality in Canada is rooted in colonialism and racism. Since its inception, the Canadian government has used oppressive tactics to control Indigenous populations and deny them their basic rights and freedoms.
For decades, Indigenous people have been subjected to discrimination at the hands of law enforcement officials who often view them as less than human. This institutionalized racism has enabled police officers to act with impunity when dealing with Indigenous and Black individuals, leading to numerous cases of excessive force and even death.
The Impact on Communities
The impact of police brutality extends far beyond individual victims; it affects entire communities by creating an atmosphere of fear and distrust toward law enforcement officials. This can lead to further marginalization as people become increasingly reluctant to report crimes or seek help from authorities for fear of being treated unfairly or worse.
Additionally, when individuals are subjected to unjust treatment by law enforcement officials, it can have long-term psychological effects that manifest themselves in depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. It is clear that police brutality remains a serious problem in Canada that needs to be addressed urgently.
Structural Racism and Multiple Systems of Failure in Canada
Canada is often seen as a beacon of hope for many immigrants, refugees, and people of colour. However, the reality in Canada is far from the truth. Structural racism exists in almost every aspect of life in Canada, from housing discrimination to the criminal justice system.
What Is Structural Racism?
Structural racism is a form of discrimination that results from systems or policies that are implemented to maintain certain racial disparities. These policies may be institutional, such as zoning laws that prevent people of colour from living in certain areas or educational programs that limit access to higher education for certain groups.
It can also manifest itself through unconscious biases held by individuals within decision-making roles or positions of power. Regardless of how it manifests itself, it has real implications for those who are most impacted by it.
Systems Impacted by Structural Racism
The most visible example of structural racism is the criminal justice system, where people of colour are disproportionately locked up and incarcerated compared to white people. This is due to systemic biases within policing practices and sentencing laws that target certain communities.
Other systems impacted include housing, education, employment, and healthcare; all these have biases in place that prevent many people from accessing services they need or deserve due to their race or ethnicity.
These biases are perpetuated by both conscious and unconscious decisions made by those within positions of power.
The Consequences of Structural Racism
The consequences of structural racism can be seen on an individual level they lead to increased poverty, lack of access to resources and services, lower educational attainment rates, and increased psychological distress among those affected by them.
On a societal level, they lead to increased levels of inequality among different races and ethnicities as well as decreased economic mobility for those who are unable to access opportunities due to their race or ethnicity.
Additionally, there is an overall negative impact on social cohesion as different communities become further divided along racial lines due to unequal treatment under the law or through other forms of discrimination.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
