The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC / CODP) has once again condemned racism against Black people by the Toronto Police Service, the provincial capital, in a report released today.

The report, entitled "From Impact to Action," offered more than 100 recommendations to address issues of systemic discrimination, racial profiling, and racism following an investigation conducted by the commission that lasted nearly six years.

"Systemic racial discrimination, racial profiling, and racism against Black people exist everywhere Black people interact with the Toronto Police Service," said Patricia deGuire, Chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

The commission this time recommended taking "legally binding measures" in an attempt to end ongoing problems.

It also called for the establishment of "accountability mechanisms in the area of racial profiling and discrimination."

Analysis of "thousands of pages of documents," along with interviews with the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Police Services Board, revealed "gaps in policies, procedures, training, and accountability mechanisms" at the Toronto Police and the municipal board that oversees police work, according to the report.

These shortcomings also contributed to "perpetuating discrimination and fueling Black people's distrust of the police," according to the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

This new study comes after the two reports "Collective Impact" (2018) and "Differential Impact" (2020) issued by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Also, in its 2020 report, the commission found that Black people in Toronto are disproportionately stopped, charged, and subject to use of force by the city police.

In its 2018 report, the commission focused on racial profiling and discrimination against Black people within the Toronto Police Service.

Last year, an analysis of data conducted by the Toronto Police Service concluded that the use of force by its officers disproportionately affects racial minority individuals.

"Comprehensive change is necessary across all sectors of our police service. This must include our leadership, culture, accountability mechanisms, training, education, and so forth," said Myron Demkiw, Chief of the Toronto Police Service, in a joint press release by the police service and the municipal police services board.

"We hear you, whether you are a member of Toronto's Black communities or a member of our police service," said Ann Morgan, Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board.

The Toronto Police Service will now begin studying the recommendations contained in the report "in collaboration with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, as well as in consultation with the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee of the Toronto Police Services Board and other stakeholders from the community."