Hon. Amina Gerba: Honourable senators, I solemnly stand before you today as a representative of Quebec and as a Black woman deeply concerned by the revelations concerning a team within the Montreal police service.

According to information made public, 16 police officers from Station 39 have been suspended from duty following allegations of racist and dehumanising behaviour. One of the things some officers are alleged to have done is cut and keep locks of hair from people who had been arrested, mainly Black people and people of Arab origin.

These acts, if confirmed, are not mere lapses in conduct. They constitute a direct affront to human dignity and are reminiscent of humiliating practices that carry a heavy historical burden for racialized communities. They undermine public trust in institutions and betray the fundamental oath to protect and serve.

As a senator from Quebec, I cannot remain silent. Institutional racism is not an abstract theory. It manifests itself in concrete actions, in organizational cultures that tolerate the unacceptable, and in practices that multiply and inflict harm on entire generations.

Honourable senators, we have a responsibility to demand thorough, transparent and rigorous investigations. We must ensure that victims are identified, heard and supported, and that police oversight mechanisms are strengthened.

I want to say this to all Black, Arab, Indigenous and racialized people in Quebec and Canada: Your dignity is non-negotiable. Your dignity will never be optional. As long as I sit in this chamber, I will help make your voice heard firmly and unequivocally. Quebec and Canada deserve institutions that are beyond reproach and police forces that are worthy of the public’s trust. We must respond to this crisis with courage, transparency and determination.

Thank you.

Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.