MONTREAL — A Quebec minister is expressing concern over a recent court ruling that reduced the sentence of a convicted Black man due to systemic discrimination. Christopher Skeete, the minister responsible for combating racism, stated that race should not influence sentencing decisions.

In an interview, Skeete questioned the implications of the ruling. “I question whether or not as a society this is exactly where we want to go,” he said. “Do we really want to formalize discrimination in the attribution of sentences for people who perpetrate crimes?”

The ruling in question was made by Judge Magali Lepage, who sentenced Frank Paris, 52, to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to trafficking cannabis and hashish. Initially, the Crown sought a four-year sentence in the case, which was heard in Longueuil, near Montreal. Paris's lawyer, Andrew Galliano, noted that his client has already been released due to credit for time served.

Galliano described the moment Paris walked into his office after the ruling as surreal. “It took courage from him too,” he said, congratulating Paris on the outcome. The lawyer argued for a reduced sentence by presenting a report detailing Paris's background as an intergenerational survivor of slavery.

Although raised in Montreal, Paris's mother hailed from Nova Scotia, where he spent summers. The report highlighted ongoing traumas affecting education, housing, employment, health, and justice systems. It also detailed instances of racial discrimination Paris faced, including wrongful detention in an immigrant holding cell despite being a Canadian citizen.

Galliano emphasized that such reports are commonly used in criminal cases in provinces like Nova Scotia, where courts recognize the effects of systemic racism. “Quebec is far behind,” he remarked, urging the judge to consider these factors.

Skeete, who labeled the sentence a “sad first for Quebec” on social media, aims to spark public discussion on the issue. He acknowledged the independence of Quebec's courts but expressed concern about creating new injustices. “What we’re trying to do is to correct the historical wrong, but the problem is we’re creating new injustices,” he said.

Skeete warned that this approach risks establishing two classes of citizens: one racialized and one not. “The fight against racism has always been one about equality under the law,” he added. “Yet here, we’re actually well-intentioned but creating inequality.”

Montreal defense attorney Sharon Sandiford, who advised on the case, countered Skeete's claims. She stated that the judge's actions were in line with established legal requirements. “What the judge did in Mr. Paris’s case was to apply exactly what the case law has required her to apply,” Sandiford said.