Report proves Toronto police in Canada target Black and Indigenous communities
June 16, 2022, 9:18 am

Report proves Toronto police in Canada target Black and Indigenous communities

FILE PHOTO: Canada's Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller (left) meets with representatives of the Mohawk Nation at the site of a rail stoppage on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Tyendinaga, Ontario, Canada February 15, 2020.

The Anadolu Agency reported that a new report released Wednesday revealed that police in Toronto, Canada disproportionally target Black, Indigenous and other minority groups, prompting the force's chief to apologize for the conduct on behalf of the department.

"As an organization, we have not done enough to ensure that every person in our city receives fair and unbiased policing," interim Toronto Police Chief James Ramer said at a press conference. "For this, as chief of police and on behalf of the police, I am sorry and I apologize unreservedly.

"We must improve, and we will do better."

The report's statistics found that the city's 5,400 uniformed officers were more likely to use force and do strip searches on Blacks and minorities.

FILE PHOTO: Canadian policman/(Chris Roussakis/ for Anadolu Agency)

Ramer’s apology was answered with tough words from at least one person at the press conference.

"Chief Ramer, we do not accept your apology," said Beverly Bain of the No Pride in Policing Coalition citizens’ group.

Indigenous Canadians make a painful plea on eve of British royal visit

Bain characterized the chief's admission and apology as "insulting" and nothing more than a "public relations stunt."

The report was compiled by an internal police panel, data from experts outside the department, and community representatives.

The report found that Black, Indigenous and Middle Eastern citizens -- in other words, people who are not white -- were more often targets of "enforcement actions."

US identifies over 50 burial sites and 500 deaths at Indigenous boarding schools

Toronto is Canada's largest city, with a population of about 2.8 million. About 10%, or 280,000 people, are Black, but they made up 22.6% of those targeted by police actions, including arrests, tickets and cautions. Blacks also accounted for almost 40% of use of police force incidents.

Also targeted disproportionally more often than whites were Latino, Asian and Middle Eastern people.

Those groups were also found to be more likely to have a police firearm pointed at them.

Canada pledges $31bn in compensation for indigenous Canadians

Toronto Mayor John Tory said the report's findings of overt racism were "unacceptable."

But this is the first time a report has been compiled with so much data, and Tory said it will be used to make positive changes in the force.

The report included 38 recommendations aimed at reducing racial discrimination and strip searches.

Source: aa

North Korea faces infectious disease outbreak amid COVID-19 battle ECHR receives 5 more applications from UK refugees to halt their deportatoin to Rwanda

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.