Repentigny, December 5, 2024 — The organization Lakay expresses its profound disappointment with the decision by the Quebec government, led by François Legault, to appeal to the Supreme Court the Quebec Court of Appeal's ruling that prohibits traffic stops without just cause. This practice has been recognized by the courts as a source of racial profiling, particularly affecting Black communities.
In October 2024, the Court of Appeal upheld the Superior Court's 2022 ruling, declaring random traffic stops unconstitutional due to their link to racial profiling. Despite this double judicial recognition, the government persists in defending this practice by taking the case to the country's highest court.
Pierre-Richard Thomas, head of Lakay, emphasizes: «This decision demonstrates a blatant lack of consideration for the suffering of Black communities, who experience the consequences of racial profiling on a daily basis. By choosing to contest this ruling, the government is sending a clear message: road safety takes precedence over the fundamental rights and dignity of racialized people.»
Lakay reminds us that racial profiling is not an abstraction, but a reality experienced by many citizens. Studies and reports, including the one published in 2021 by our organization, have documented the extent of this phenomenon in Repentigny, highlighting the municipal government's inaction in the face of this issue.
Furthermore, the Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission has repeatedly called for systemic solutions to combat racial profiling and systemic discrimination against racialized youth. Despite these calls, concrete actions have been slow to materialize.
«We will not remain silent in the face of injustice. We will continue to fight for a fair society where everyone is treated with respect and dignity, regardless of the color of their skin or their ethnic origin,» says Mr. Thomas.
Lakay calls on the government to reconsider its position and put in place concrete measures to eradicate racial profiling, rather than defending practices recognized as discriminatory by the courts.