OTTAWA -- Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says she鈥檚 determined to rid Canada鈥檚 criminal justice system of racism.
鈥淭here is no place in this country for racism, discrimination, bias of any sort in the criminal justice system or otherwise, and I will be vigilant in terms of insuring that that doesn鈥檛 exist,鈥� she said in an interview with CTV Question Period host Evan Solomon.
Wilson-Raybould said that people 鈥渕arching in the streets鈥� after Gerald Stanley鈥檚 acquittal in the death of 22-year-old Cree man Colton Boushie demonstrated that people are concerned with the current state of Canadian courts.
鈥淚 think that racism is something that we have to consider, that exists, that there are systemic challenges within the justice system, in terms of different peoples鈥� perspectives, racism, bias, discrimination,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is what I view people that have been marching in the streets since the verdict last week, are coming out to talk about.鈥�
The Attorney General and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took political heat last week over what the opposition characterized as 鈥減olitical interference鈥� by taking to social media to comment that the justice system can 鈥渄o better,鈥� in response to Stanley鈥檚 acquittal by a jury with no visibly Indigenous members.
Though, Wilson-Raybould denies their comments took things too far, saying she 鈥渇elt compelled鈥� to say something.
鈥淔ollowing the lead of the Prime Minister, I acknowledged and recognized the angst and the emotion and the trauma that the Boushie family was feeling, and beyond that, Canadians right across the country. My comments were specifically about the justice system and the injustice in that system as it relates to Indigenous peoples,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 in no way was questioning the decision of the jury,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think it is incumbent upon me to respond to the lives and experiences of individuals and keep a constant vigilance in terms of the wellbeing of the justice system.鈥�
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the government鈥檚 intention to create a legal framework to protect the rights of Indigenous people in Canada, during a take-note debate on the experience of Indigenous Peoples within Canada鈥檚 justice system.
The special debate came on the heels Boushie鈥檚 family meeting with federal ministers to discuss potential justice reforms.
Wilson-Raybould discussed potential changes the federal government is considering to the Criminal Code, including around jury selection by removing peremptory challenges.
鈥淢arginalized individuals including Indigenous communities, black Canadians, other marginalized groups have not seen themselves in the justice system, have not played an active role in the justice system and so this is a comprehensive way in which we have to ensure that individuals are involved,鈥� she said.
Though, Pam Palmater, associate professor and chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University, said on CTV鈥檚 Question Period that jury selection won鈥檛 fix the fundamental problem.
鈥淯nless we get at the root of it, fixing around the edges鈥� is not going to cut it,鈥� Palmater said.
Wilson-Raybould also said she is confident that 鈥渁t some point in the not too distant future鈥� an Indigenous person will be named to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Consent doesn鈥檛 mean a veto: Wilson-Raybould
As for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) -- which means requiring 鈥渇ree, prior and informed consent鈥� before the approval of natural resource development -- Wilson-Raybould said to her, consent doesn鈥檛 mean a 鈥渧eto鈥� on projects.
鈥淐onsent is not equated to a veto,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e will make better decisions when we involve Indigenous peoples and Indigenous jurisdiction in decision making as we move towards consensus-based decision making, which doesn鈥檛 mean everybody agrees, but we have to actually put in place a process that respects the decision-making power of each of the parties.鈥�
Palmater saw things differently, arguing the Liberal鈥檚 position is not consistent with current law.
鈥淚n what alternate universe does consent not require you to say yes or no? In every other context in society and in law, and in contracts, consent means you get to say 鈥榶es鈥� or 鈥榥o.鈥� Only in the case of Indigenous peoples does it mean something else,鈥� she said.
