Canada supporting Nova Scotia’s legal services for Black and racialized communities

Black racilalized community. Image credit by Inatimi Nathus on unsplash

Ottawa/CMEDIA: A joint annoucement was made today by David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Vanessa Fells of the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition (ANSDPAD), Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville–Preston–Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, and Robert Wright, Executive Director of the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI), to provide financial support for legal information and resources in Nova Scotia to empower its social and economic justice, a news release said. 

This investment would facilitate ANSDPAD to hire a full-time lawyer, legal assistant and legal support and research person who would provide free independent legal information and advice to clients of the

“Through this fund, ANSJI will be able to dedicate additional resources to tackling these injustices and inequities…increase access to justice for African Nova Scotians, Black, and racialized communities and will assist people in navigating informal and formal legal processes in Nova Scotia, with a focus on human rights, employment discrimination, and policing issues” said Robert Wright.

Black persons will be assisted by these legal professionals when navigating informal and formal legal processes in Nova Scotia with a focus on human rights, employment discrimination, policing issues and access to justice including initiatives related to public legal education and support.

An amount of $607,200 is being provided by Justice Canada over three years through the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program for this initiative.

“We are committed to fighting systemic anti-Black racism and discrimination…developing Canada’s Black Justice Strategy in consultation and cooperation with Black communities, provinces and territories…support to the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition, we are helping bring systemic change and improving access to justice and fairness in our justice system,” said Lametti.

The Government of Canada is committed to providing fair and equal access to justice for Black and racialized communities across the country in all its forms and in all phases of the justice system

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