Mr. Speaker, Canada's legal profession suffers from racism and this Liberal government has just made matters worse.
Quebec has recently chosen to address racism in the legal profession by appointing the first black judge in its history. Félicitations.
The Liberal government chose instead to push equality for black people, and indeed for all people of colour, backward.
This slap in the face of all Canadians of conscience came recently when the government failed to appoint Judge Corrine Sparks to the new Unified Family Court.
Appointed in 1987, Judge Sparks is the most senior woman and the only black judge sitting in the family court in Nova Scotia. Judge Sparks is widely respected both in the black community throughout Canada and by the legal profession in Nova Scotia.
This Liberal government must immediately review and rectify this wrong.
Dr. Esmerelda Thornhill, professor of law at Dalhousie wrote:
I further implore you to put in place mechanisms that will start guaranteeing an equitable representation for racial minorities in all federal appointments to the Judiciary.
The black community and all Canadians deserve justice on this matter.