OHRC makes 107 recommendations after report finds Black people disproportionately stopped by Toronto police

Toronto police should destroy historical street check data, provide greater transparency on officer discipline, and implement a distinct policy or procedure on racial profiling if it wants to work toward eradicating systemic anti-Black racism, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) says.

The recommendations are a handful of the 107 outlined in the OHRC's final report and blueprint released Thursday, concluding its roughly six-year inquiry into anti-Black systemic racism at the Toronto Police Service (TPS).

"The report's findings are clear," said Patricia Deguire, OHRC commissioner.

"Systemic racial discrimination, racial profiling and anti-Black racism exists wherever Black people interact with Toronto police services," she said.

The report details the results of the commission's consultations with Black communities and police that identify gaps in policies and procedures at TPS and Toronto Police Service Board (TPSB).

The report summarizes the findings of the inquiry throughout the years (which you can find in its previous reports) and concluded that Black people are over-represented in all areas of Toronto policing in comparison to their share of the city's population, including: 

The report also points to a survey conducted in 2019 — two years after the provincial regulation banning official street checks took effect — that found 40.4 per cent of Black respondents reported being stopped by police at least once in the previous two years, compared with 24.7 per cent of white respondents and 24.9 per cent of Asian respondents.

The ORHC says Black people need change and not another report indicating issues, after decades of research confirming systemic racism in the force. They want their recommendations to be legally binding by working with Toronto police on an agreement.

"The OHRC's inquiry has confirmed that Black communities have little confidence in a process that does not result in accountability for the TPS and TPSB," the commission wrote in its report.

"Legally binding measures are an important step in building confidence in policing and promoting a fundamental shift in practices and culture."

Some of the recommendations also pertain to the province. Some of what OHRC is calling for the province to do:

Last summer, then-Interim Police Chief James Ramer acknowledged and apologized for systemic racism after the force's analysis of 2020 use of force and strip search data confirmed what Black communities have been telling the TPS for years.

In a statement released Thursday morning, police say they welcome the report and "view it as an important contribution to the work already underway" in its efforts to address anti-Black racism. 

"Both the Service and the Board are committed to learning, and to continuing this important work as we address the impacts of systemic racism," said TPS Chief Myron Demkiw.