"This is very encouraging news. It is certainly one of the key demands that many in the community have been making." said Karen Mock, Executive Director of the CRRF. "Community members have always expressed a lack of confidence in the complaints process since it was changed by the previous government. They are uncomfortable with the perception of police investigating themselves."
Dr. Mock also commended the minister on the approach he is planning to take by consulting communities widely before tabling the legislation.
"It is important to listen to the concerns of the community in the whole question of racial profiling and other concerns with the criminal justice system," continued Dr. Mock. "The CRRF is therefore quite willing to contribute its expertise in helping to the come up with the best possible solution. The complaints process must not only be fair, it must be seen to be fair."
The Foundation hosted two "summit" meetings with police and government officials in the wake of the Toronto Star's racial profiling reports in October 2002, which concluded that African Canadians in particular were treated differently by police and other areas of the criminal justice system.