Canada has made scant progress addressing the over-representation of Black people in prisons, with some facing even worse conditions than they did a decade ago, a new report says. •⁠⠀ Correctional investigator Ivan Zinger said in a news conference Tuesday that he is disappointed to report the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), an "extraordinarily well-financed" agency in charge of Canadian prisons, has failed to recognize its role in reversing the crisis of over-representation. •⁠⠀ The CSC employs about 1.2 staff members for each incarcerated person and spends almost $190,000 a year per prisoner. •⁠⠀ "For an organization that spends so much money to have poor correctional outcomes, especially for Indigenous prisoners as well as for Black prisoners, is a real shame and something that Canadians should be concerned with," he said. • Black prisoners relayed their experiences of "discrimination, differential treatment, stereotyping, racial bias and labelling," the report reads, and "consistently reported use of derogatory or racist language by CSC staff, as well as being ignored or disregarded in ways that increase feelings of marginalization, exclusion and isolation." •⁠⠀ Although more than 30 recommendations have been made to the CSC over the years, it "hasn't followed up very much on many of them," said Zinger. •⁠⠀ In addition, Zinger’s office has made 18 recommendations to the federal government overall, including eight focused on improving the lives of Black prisoners, and a strategy that addresses "the unique lived experiences and barriers faced by federally sentenced Black individuals." •⁠⠀ Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, who oversees the service, said that he welcomed the "meticulous" report and that "extensive work" is underway to address issues. • • • Photos: Rafferty Baker/CBC, Justin Tang/The Canadian Press @cbcnews #beingblackincanada #bbic