Hon. Wanda Elaine Thomas Bernard: Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, one of the root causes of the overrepresentation of Black people in Canadian prisons is systemic, anti-Black racism. One of the major barriers that many Black prisoners face is being labelled as part of a “security threat group.” This label can be applied to their file for simply wearing a durag or for the neighbourhood in which their family resides. This label stays on their file whether or not they are currently gang-affiliated and it impacts the treatment in prison, eligibility for programs and for parole. This is only one example of anti-Black racism present in Canadian prisons.

Senator Gold, what is being done to address systemic anti-Black racism in Canada’s prisons and the criminal justice system?