A Quebec minister says he is disappointed a judge gave a Black man a reduced sentence for a drug trafficking crime due to his race.
Christopher Skeete made the comments after the judge in a Longueuil court, on the south shore of Montreal, concluded the man deserved leniency due to systemic racism.
The judge based her decision on a report submitted by the defence lawyer that noted how the manÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ crimes were linked to the racism he had faced in his life.
Judge Magali Lepage wound up giving Frank Paris a two-year sentence for cannabis and hashish-related trafficking charges in the case.
Skeete is Quebec's minister responsible for the fight against racism.
He told The Canadian Press in an interview the case could set a precedent that creates two classes of citizens.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2025.