N.S. decision on use of Impact of Race and Culture Assessment expected to have national impact

A Nova Scotia appellate court decision on sentencing Blacks could have ramifications across the country, says a counsel for the intervener.

“I think it’s a ruling of national importance, because it requires judges to reckon with the impact of Canada's history of anti-Black racism and over incarceration before determining [a] sentence for Black people,” says Faisal Mirza, who acted as counsel for the Criminal Lawyers’ Association before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

“What it's telling judges is that the touchstone principle of proportionality can only be accomplished when critical information is made visible through an IRCA [Impact of Race and Culture Assessments] report.”

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