Jagmeet Singh Calls For 'Systemic Change' To End Racism In Canada’s Police Service
After another person was shot by Canadian police last week, Jagmeet Singh wants “real action” from the government. In a statement on Monday, he discussed racism in Canada’s police service. In response to recent events, he's calling for “systemic change” to policing and the RCMP.
Singh began his statement on June 15 by talking about Rodney Levi of the Red Bank First Nation, who was shot and killed by the RCMP last week.
“There is incredible pain across this country about the systemic racism that continues to exist in policing, at all levels of policing, but speaking specifically about the RCMP. We know that there is systemic racism,” he said.
Singh went on to mention Chantel Moore, an Indigenous woman who was also shot by police this month, and the Inuk man who was knocked down by a police vehicle during an arrest.
“These are really clear examples of a broader systemic problem,” he continued. “So we’re calling for systemic change.”
Once again, he called out Justin Trudeau's lack of "real action" when it comes to tackling racism. “It is no longer, in any way, sufficient for the government to say nice words, or to make empty gestures,” he said.
The NDP leader explained that ending systemic racism in the Canadian police force should include putting an end to racial profiling, carding and street-checks at a federal level.
“We need to re-prioritize how we spend money,” he continued. Singh suggested some police funding should be reallocated to health workers, mental health services and local communities.
Discussing the idea of demilitarizing the police, he added, “There’s no need to purchase tanks and military equipment.”
The NDP leader also said that police, “particularly the RCMP,” need to have more accountability for their actions.
He called on the RCMP to release data pertaining to the use of force, to see how many times it involves Indigenous or Black people.
“It’ll show what anecdotally we’ve seen, that there has been and continues to be systemic racism all over policing.”
Singh’s latest statement follows several calls to the prime minister to take stronger action when it comes to racism in Canada.
Last week, he told Trudeau that “pretty words” were not enough.
He also spoke out against the PM for failing to take a stronger stance against recent actions from U.S. President Donald Trump.