Thank you, Madam Chair.
I hope we were able to clarify my comments to Monsieur Fortin. I did not wish to give the impression that I would be willing to move off the word “systemic”. No. I think it's a very important word, for the reasons that Mr. Virani just pointed out.
Second, just because there is a large consensus, that doesn't mean it's unanimous. However, there is a large consensus, I think, across the country as to the use and meaning of the words “racism” and “systemic discrimination”. I liked what Mr. Virani pointed out in what Senator Sinclair raised as an example.
I would offer another example. Studies have shown that Black or indigenous people are no more likely to commit a crime, all factors kept the same, than non-indigenous or non-Black people, yet when you take a look at our incarceration populations, you will find that Black Canadians are three to four times more overrepresented in our carceral system than non-Black Canadians. For indigenous people, it's worse. It's seven to eight times their demographic weight.
We know, or we strongly suspect, that there are no racists who are administering justice throughout the entire system, even including judges, yet there is something that is going on that's leading to these wonky results. That is the systemic nature of discrimination and racism at work. These are the things that force us to ask these uncomfortable questions, and by including this in the training, we are just heightening people's awareness of it so that they can get at the things they really can't normally see. That's the insidious nature of systemic issues.
I hope, with those examples, that we can move on and achieve consensus around this table that these are important elements to include in this bill.
Thank you.