Toronto’s mayor has promised sweeping changes to the city’s police services. His announcement follows an Ontario Human Rights Commission report outlining strong anti-Black racism by Toronto Police.
That report, called "A Disparate Impact," looked at dates from 2013-2017. It found that Black people are more likely to be arrested, charged, struck, shot or killed in confrontations with Toronto Police, while representing less than 9% of the city’s population.
Mayor John Tory outlined more than 80 recommendations to address systemic racism in the Toronto police service. Some of the recommendations include non-police alternatives for community safety, budget and data transparency, conduct accountability, police training, building public confidence and ensuring change, to name a few.
"This is a recognition of the fact that we know we must do more, because systemic racism in policing threatens the equal rights and opportunity and justice and well being of indigenous, Black and marginalized communities in our city," Tory said, "and that is not something that is acceptable to me as mayor or to you the people of Toronto."
Tory said people want a police service that works for everyone and that is good for all of city’s communities and residents. He said reforms will be good for the police, as well, because it will rebuild trust that is so essential to carrying out their duties.
Tory said the reforms need to implemented as soon as possible and he wants an online monitoring tool to track the progresss of implementation of the reforms by October.
