Advocates push for reform and Black Canadian justice strategy
The federal government is being urged to follow through with its commitment to develop a Black Canadian justice strategy.
criminal justice system
Feds announce funding for Métis organizations to co-develop Indigenous Justice Strategy
The $1.5 million over three years will fund Métis organizations' work to co-develop Ottawa's Indigenous Justice Strategy. However, it's unclear how many years away we are from the strategy's implementation.
Liberal steps to remove mandatory minimums doesn't go far enough: Murray Sinclair
The former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission says Liberal legislation to remove some mandatory minimum penalties from the Criminal Code doesn't go far enough.
Canada’s criminal justice system is racist. We need more than apologies to fix it
Repealing all mandatory minimum sentences will lead to more justice for Black, Indigenous and racialized and other disadvantaged communities.
Canada one step closer to removing some mandatory minimum sentences
Members of Parliament voted to adopt the Liberal government's proposed legislation on mandatory minimum penalties on Wednesday, Jun2 15, 2022, bringing it another step closer to becoming law.
COVID pandemic prompts Lametti to propose permanent justice reforms
The COVID-19 pandemic appears set to force a modernization of Canada's justice system.
Federal ministers discuss need for anti-racism training for all justice system employees
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says a need for anti-racism training for all people working in the criminal justice system was a focus of conversation with his counterparts from across the country at a two-day meeting.
Liberals promise action on biases in justice system and policing
The Liberal government is promising legislation and money to address systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system.
Horgan asks Trudeau to decriminalize drug possession as deaths climb
British Columbia's premier is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take an "enormous step" to reduce stigma associated with illicit drug use by decriminalizing possession for personal use.
Police chiefs call for decriminalization
Canada's police chiefs are calling for decriminalization of personal possession of illicit drugs as the best way to battle substance abuse and addiction.
O'Toole sidesteps acknowledgment of systemic racism during debate
As three Conservative leadership candidates acknowledged the need to address systemic racism in Canada, a fourth, Erin O'Toole, wouldn't say whether he believes it exists.
Federal NDP and Greens, provincial opposition call for review of Glen Assoun case
Opposition leaders in Ottawa and Nova Scotia are calling for further investigation into why the RCMP destroyed potential evidence in the criminal proceedings against a Halifax man who was wrongfully convicted of murder.
Supreme Court orders new trial for manslaughter in Cindy Gladue's death
Ontario trucker Bradley Barton should be retried for manslaughter, but not murder, in the case of Cindy Gladue, who bled to death in the bathroom of his Edmonton motel room, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled.
Street checks should be strictly limited - or banned outright, N.S. report said
Street checks by Halifax-area police have had a "disproportionate and negative" impact on the African Nova Scotia community, according to a new report that found black males were nine times more likely to be stopped by police than the general population.
Ombudsman flags gaps in bill of rights for victims of military crimes
The federal victims' ombudsman says there are worrying gaps in proposed legislation around victims' rights in the military justice system — and that fixing them could make the system a shining example for the rest of the country.