TERMINOLOGY
In this report, the term Afro-descendant is used to refer to:
[...] the person of African origin who lives in the Americas and in the region of the African Diaspora as a result of slavery, who [has] been denied the exercise of their fundamental rights.8
The terms Afro-descendant and Black are used interchangeably.
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For the purposes of this report, systemic racism is defined as:
[...] the entire societal structure, consisting of institutions, laws and policies, that maintain a system of inequalities that privilege and oppress different groups in society according to the “race” attributed to them. These inequalities confer privilege on White persons and undermine the rights of Black, racialized and Indigenous people. [translation]9
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When we mention racial profiling, we refer to:
[…] any action taken by a person or persons in a position of authority with respect to a person or group of persons, for reasons of public safety, security or protection, that is based on factors of actual or presumed membership, such as race, colour, ethnic or national origin, or religion, without actual cause or reasonable suspicion, and that has the effect of subjecting the person to differential scrutiny or treatment. Racial profiling also includes any action by persons in a position of authority who apply a measure disproportionately to segments of the population on the basis of, inter alia, their actual or presumed racial, ethnic, national or religious affiliation. [translation]10
SUMMARY
This report examines discrimination against Afro-descendant people in Canada and in the province of Quebec more specifically, in three areas: health, immigration and policing. This focus in no way implies that discrimination against Afro-descendant people is less common outside of these areas. On the contrary, this report condemns the systemic racism against Black persons that persists in Canadian society.
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Several Canadian provinces have acknowledged the existence of systemic racism.6 This recognition is the first step towards the development and implementation of strategies to reform this state of affairs. However, other provincial governments, including the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta, continue to deny the existence of systemic racism in their territories.7
SUMMARY
This report examines discrimination against Afro-descendant people in Canada and in the province of Quebec more specifically, in three areas: health, immigration and policing. This focus in no way implies that discrimination against Afro-descendant people is less common outside of these areas. On the contrary, this report condemns the systemic racism against Black persons that persists in Canadian society.
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Several Canadian provinces have acknowledged the existence of systemic racism.6 This recognition is the first step towards the development and implementation of strategies to reform this state of affairs. However, other provincial governments, including the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta, continue to deny the existence of systemic racism in their territories.7