African Canadian Legal Clinic Poll Reveals More Money Needed For Social Services, Not Policing

TORONTO, Ontario — A poll commissioned by The African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC) confirms that Ontarians want less money spent on policing and greater transparency from police services across the province.  The poll, which was conducted in partnership with Mainstreet Research, revealed that 53% of the Ontarians surveyed believed that tax dollars are better spent on reducing poverty rather than increasing police budgets.

“We cannot police our way to a safer, healthier and more equitable community” said Roger Love, Advice Counsel with the African Canadian Community.  “There have been countless studies such as the Roots to Youth Violence which have found that many of our social ills are best remedied by improving social services instead of injecting funds into policing” added Love.

Roger Love

Policy and Research Lawyer Anthony Morgan found that, “The poll affirms that Ontarians see the benefit in collecting and releasing statistics that can have a positive impact on how our police services operate.”   Morgan went on to state that the collection and release of disaggregated data on police shootings are needed to monitor trends and implement effective solutions.

In reference to the poll’s finding that 82% of respondents found that Chiefs of police should be able to suspend or terminate a police officer who commits a serious act of misconduct Morgan stated, “Members of the African Canadian community, and the community at large are starving for greater accountability. Our tax dollars should not be used to support officers that violate our rights while spending on social services continues to diminish.”

Established in 1994, the ACLC is a not-for-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The mandate of the ACLC is to engage in test case litigation in the areas of racial discrimination and anti-Black racism. In addition to providing legal services the ACLC is a major social service provider for the African Canadian community.