By Canadian Press

Freeland says police must acknowledge racism after senior RCMP officer’s denial

Jun 10, 2020 | 12:23 PM

OTTAWA — Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says all federal agencies, including the police, must understand that systemic racism is a problem in Canada.

Freeland made the comments at a media briefing today upon being asked about a denial from the RCMP’s commanding officer in Alberta, Curtis Zablocki, that there is entrenched racism in Canadian policing.

Zablocki spoke Monday in response to questions about the wave of protests over the death of George Floyd in the United States.

Freeland says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been very clear that systemic racism exists in all Canadian institutions.

She says it is essential for federal agencies to operate from an understanding that racism is a problem that must be addressed.

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Freeland says the next step is to take concrete action to work against systemic prejudice and, ultimately, to dismantle it.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2020.

The Canadian Press