8.6 million to help Blacks in matters of justice
Jean Numa Goudou ·
The Saint-Michel Legal Clinic (CJSM) is one of the recipients of this fund to the tune of $390,000.
For 24 projects related to justice for Black people across Canada, funding of $8.6 million was announced by Health Minister and Papineau MP Marjorie Michel, along with Patricia Lattanzio, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
The Saint-Michel Legal Clinic (CJSM) is one of the beneficiaries of this fund, receiving $290,000 to provide legal guidance services for Black people in Quebec.
"We are well aware of the obstacles that have stood before us so far," said Ms. Michel during the announcement at Groupe 3737, "the presence of Black lawyers in firms and universities is a democratic necessity."
This funding is part of initial investments aimed at implementing the Canadian Strategy on Justice for Black People, which seeks to combat racism and systemic discrimination against Black people that has led to their overrepresentation in the Canadian criminal justice system, including as victims and survivors of criminal acts. These investments will help community organizations develop projects focused on Black people.
"The implementation of the Canadian Strategy builds on decades of advocacy and calls to action from Black individuals and organizations, particularly in Montreal," recalls Saint-Léonard-Saint-Michel MP P. Lattanzio.
The CJSM project will help victims of criminal acts, support people and help them navigate the system, and ensure specialized services. Ultimately, it must guarantee a criminal justice system that is more accessible and more equitable for Black communities.
CJSM director Me Fernando Belton welcomes the announcement. But the lawyer warns that the "differential treatment" that Black people have faced for over 400 years will not be resolved with a snap of the fingers.
"We hope this is a first milestone being set, that despite the uncertainty of public finances, we can continue on this path. The announced funding delights us, we are very happy, but implementing this project will require decades of work," he says.
The work of CJSM over the past 7 years has allowed it to compile data and testimonies from victims of this differential treatment. Me Belton lists abusive stops, heavier sentences from judges, racial profiling, among others.
"These biases are hard to recognize within the justice system," deplores the lawyer who hopes that by 2030 a "decrease in the overrepresentation of Black people" can be observed.
"We cannot think that after the last 400 years of treating Black people differently, that with funding packages and without a much longer-term vision, we can achieve the targeted objectives" - Me Fernando Belton.
CJSM is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote accessibility to justice. While legal needs are pressing and several community centers do not have adequate resources to meet such needs, CJSM provides a team of professionals at the disposal of the Montreal and Quebec population facing legal problems.
"Unite in difference to make a difference" is the organization's slogan.