Send this page to someone via email

The Nova Scotia NDP have brought forward a bill that would immediately place a moratorium on police street checks — the controversial practice of stopping people, who aren’t suspect of a crime, on foot or in a vehicle.

READ MORE: Independent expert selected to look into police checks in Halifax

Currently, a Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission report is in the works that will guide how government and police address the issue that has long been called discriminatory by members of minority groups.

The Police Street Checks Act, tabled Friday by Halifax Needham MLA Lisa Roberts, would bring much more immediate change.

“The intent of the bill is really to be responsive to the stories that we have heard and that African Nova Scotians in particular have shared for a long time,” explained Roberts. Tweet This

Story continues below advertisement

“The bill would put an immediate moratorium on the practice of street checks and also set out a process for moving forward once the human rights commission process is completed.”

“We don’t think there’s a reason to wait,” said Roberts. Tweet This

NDP MLA Lisa Roberts has tabled a bill to eliminate street checks. Calls the practice discrimination and says it unfairly targets members of certain communities. pic.twitter.com/BZZNOPwGqp — Jeremy Keefe (@Jeremy_Keefe) April 6, 2018

READ MORE: Concerns over street checks fielded by Halifax police chief, panel

If passed, the bill would ensure police and citizen interactions are consensual and prohibit officers from collecting, releasing or retaining information about someone who has not been arrested or charged with an offence.

It would also see a panel appointed by the Minister of Justice that would consist of at least three people. At least one of the panel members would have to be a representative of the African Nova Scotian community.

“I think at this point, it’s clear enough that it should be stopped,” said Tiffany Gordon, a spokesperson for Working While Black Nova Scotia, an advocate group that deals with workplace racism in the province.

“Although it is good that the human rights commission has come in and tried to look at the data from a different perspective … we would like it stopped regardless of what comes out.”

“Working while Black in Nova Scotia” spokesperson Tiffany Gordon indicated she’s heard from one community member who stopped counting how many times she was street checked. Estimated around 40 instances. pic.twitter.com/XCr0CWKOBs — Jeremy Keefe (@Jeremy_Keefe) April 6, 2018

Story continues below advertisement

Premier Stephen McNeil has put his support behind the commission and indicated his government will await their findings before proceeding further.

“We’re gathering the evidence and a decision independent from government, from all the stakeholders,” he said. “We’ll work with everyone, bring back the evidence to determine what are the next steps.”

Justice minister and former police officer, Mark Furey, echoed the premier’s stance on waiting for the results before taking any action.

“I don’t want to react to circumstances. I want to be able to respond in an informed manner to ensure the outcomes are meaningful and intended to serve the purposes we would want them to,” he said.

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission’s report is expected to be released in the fall.

Story continues below advertisement

Follow @Jeremy_Keefe