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Black people have been in Canada since the early 1600s. Some of the earliest Black inhabitants were enslaved persons brought from the United States and the Caribbean.
In Canada, historical examples include the segregation of Black people and the Indian Act.
In 2019, a report from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal showed that Black and Indigenous people are stopped four to five times more often than people who are white. A similar situation has been observed regarding the police in Toronto.
In 2020, while Black people represented only 8.8 per cent of the population of Toronto, they were targeted in one-quarter of police actions and subjected to the use of force in 40 per cent of these actions.
Further, in 2020, despite representing only 5 per cent of Canada’s adult population, Indigenous people accounted for 30 per cent of the inmates in federal penitentiaries.
The safe drinking water issue in Indigenous communities is another example of systemic racism. source
Systemic racism in Canada is a recognized issue that manifests in areas such as education, employment, healthcare, criminal justice, and housing. Here are some notable statistics across these domains, revealing racial inequalities and the broader impact of systemic racism.
1. Criminal Justice
Black and Indigenous people are significantly overrepresented in Canadian prisons. Although Black Canadians make up about 3.5% of the population, they accounted for 8.6% of the federal inmate population in 2020. Indigenous people, who comprise about 5% of Canada’s population, represent over 30% of inmates.
Indigenous women are even more disproportionately impacted, making up approximately 42% of the female prison population.
Black Canadians are more likely to experience police stops or use of force compared to white Canadians, even when adjusted for socio-economic factors.
2. Employment and Income
Black Canadians face higher unemployment rates than the national average, with the rate often exceeding that of white Canadians by several percentage points.
The 2016 Census showed that Black individuals in Canada earned on average 25% less than their white counterparts.
Indigenous peoples also experience high unemployment rates, almost twice the rate for non-Indigenous Canadians, and often work in lower-wage, less stable jobs.
3. Education
Studies indicate that Black and Indigenous students are more likely to be suspended or expelled from school compared to white students, impacting their academic outcomes and future opportunities.
According to a Toronto District School Board report, Black students were disproportionately represented in suspension and expulsion rates and had lower graduation rates.
Indigenous youth face barriers to education, with high school graduation rates significantly lower than the national average—only 48% of Indigenous people on reserves have completed high school, compared to 89% of non-Indigenous Canadians.
4. Healthcare
Indigenous Canadians face significant disparities in health outcomes. For example, they experience higher rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and a lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous Canadians.
Black and Indigenous patients have also reported discrimination and inadequate care in healthcare settings. A 2020 survey found that Black Canadians were more likely to report experiencing discrimination in healthcare than their white counterparts.
Indigenous people are also more likely to face challenges in accessing healthcare services, especially in remote areas where healthcare facilities are often under-resourced. source
5. Housing
Indigenous and Black Canadians are disproportionately affected by homelessness and housing insecurity. In major cities, Indigenous people are more likely to experience homelessness despite representing a smaller share of the population.
In 2016, nearly 1 in 15 Indigenous people were homeless or lived in precarious housing conditions. Additionally, racialized communities experience higher rates of overcrowded housing and face more barriers to homeownership.
6. Police and Use of Force Incidents
Data from cities such as Toronto indicate that Black individuals are more likely to experience use-of-force incidents involving the police. For example, between 2013 and 2017, Black residents in Toronto represented 37% of police use-of-force cases, despite making up only about 8.8% of the city’s population.
These statistics underscore the breadth and depth of systemic racism in Canada across various sectors, highlighting a need for reforms, increased accountability, and targeted interventions to address these disparities.
Systemic Racism in Canada compared to America
While both Canada and the United States face systemic racism, the experiences and structures of racial inequality differ in important ways due to distinct histories, demographic compositions, and policy approaches in each country. Here’s a comparative look at systemic racism in Canada and the U.S. across similar areas: source
1. Criminal Justice and Policing
In Canada: Indigenous and Black people are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. Indigenous individuals make up 5% of the population but over 30% of the federal prison population, while Black Canadians comprise around 3.5% of the general population and approximately 8.6% of the federal prison population. Studies show that racialized Canadians are more likely to experience carding, over-policing, and use of force than white Canadians, although data collection is less comprehensive than in the U.S.
In the U.S.: Systemic racism in criminal justice is similarly prominent, with Black Americans, who make up about 13% of the population, representing around 33% of the prison population. The U.S. has significantly higher incarceration rates, partly due to harsher sentencing practices, including mandatory minimums and the “War on Drugs,” which disproportionately impacted Black and Hispanic communities. Police violence is a major concern, with Black Americans being three times more likely than white Americans to be killed by police.
2. Employment and Income
In Canada: Black and Indigenous Canadians face employment barriers, with higher unemployment rates and wage gaps compared to white Canadians. Structural inequities in hiring practices and occupational advancement limit access to high-paying jobs, often relegating racialized groups to lower-paying sectors.
In the U.S.: Wage disparities and employment discrimination are also well-documented, particularly for Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities. Black Americans, on average, earn 73 cents to every dollar that white Americans earn, even with equivalent education. The racial wealth gap is more severe in the U.S., with a median Black household wealth of about $24,000 compared to $188,000 for white households, due to systemic inequalities in access to assets and opportunities.
3. Education
In Canada: Black and Indigenous students face educational barriers, with Indigenous youth particularly experiencing lower graduation rates and access to quality education, especially on reserves where resources and funding are limited. In urban settings, Black students are often overrepresented in disciplinary actions, and studies indicate lower expectations and biased treatment by teachers.
In the U.S.: Racial disparities in education are closely tied to school funding, which often relies on local property taxes, creating significant inequalities between predominantly Black and Hispanic districts and white districts. Black and Hispanic students also face higher suspension and expulsion rates and are disproportionately placed in lower-track programs. Systemic racism in the U.S. education system has been extensively studied, showing consistent barriers for students of color in accessing quality education and advanced learning opportunities.
4. Healthcare
In Canada: Indigenous Canadians experience the largest health disparities, including higher rates of chronic illnesses, lower life expectancy, and barriers to accessing healthcare services. Systemic discrimination and cultural insensitivity are significant issues, with Indigenous patients frequently reporting inadequate care. Black Canadians also report healthcare discrimination, with a 2020 survey finding they were more likely to experience racism in medical settings.
In the U.S.: Racial health disparities are a critical issue, with Black, Hispanic, and Native American populations experiencing higher rates of chronic diseases, infant mortality, and lower life expectancy. These disparities are driven by factors like healthcare access, bias in medical treatment, and social determinants of health, such as housing and income. Black Americans have consistently reported lower-quality treatment and have higher maternal mortality rates, a striking disparity in comparison to white Americans.
5. Housing
In Canada: Indigenous and Black Canadians face barriers to housing, and both groups are disproportionately affected by homelessness. Indigenous people, in particular, are more likely to live in overcrowded and inadequate housing, especially in northern or remote communities where housing shortages are common.
In the U.S.: Redlining, discriminatory lending practices, and urban renewal projects throughout the 20th century contributed significantly to racial housing disparities. Black Americans are still more likely to experience mortgage denial and are underrepresented among homeowners. Housing segregation remains a prominent issue, with neighborhoods often divided along racial lines, leading to significant disparities in wealth, access to quality schools, and local services.
6. Historical and Structural Factors
In Canada: While Canada didn’t have the same legal segregation as the U.S., racial inequalities have been entrenched through colonialism and systemic policies. The treatment of Indigenous peoples, including the establishment of residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and restrictive laws around land and resource rights, has profoundly impacted Indigenous communities. For Black Canadians, historical discrimination (like segregation in Nova Scotia) and ongoing employment and housing discrimination continue to reinforce inequities.
In the U.S.: Racial inequality has deep roots in the history of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and legalized segregation, creating a legacy of systemic discrimination that continues to impact Black Americans, as well as Hispanic and Native American communities. The Civil Rights Movement brought significant legal changes, but structural inequalities persist. source
See also: Anti-Black Racism in Canada
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