Sinclair's death due to racism, think-tank says

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This article was published 4/2/2015 (1205 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Toronto health policy think-tank says in a new report the death of Brian Sinclair is a prime example of how racism leads to poor treatment of indigenous people in Canada's health-care system.

The Wellesley Institute report, First Peoples, Second Class Treatment, takes a broad look at the impact of racism and stereotyping on the health of indigenous people. It looks at the Brian Sinclair case in a section on racism and access to health care, under the heading "fatal racism."

"Racism, the refusal of care and poor treatment of indigenous peoples in the Canadian health care system are well documented in health research," concludes the report. "For Mr. Sinclair, the impact of racism proved fatal."

Sinclair was 45 when he died of a treatable bladder infection in the waiting area of the emergency room at the Health Sciences Centre in September 2008, after waiting 34 hours for care.

An inquest, which looked a this death specifically, excluded the issue of racism in its study.

The Wellesley report is the second time in less than a month, a Toronto-based organization is pointing at Winnipeg with accusations of racism. Last month, Maclean's magazine had a front-page story declaring Winnipeg had the worst racism problem in Canada.

Emily Hill, a lawyer with aboriginal legal services Toronto, said Tuesday anyone reading the details of Sinclair's final 34 hours could not help but come to the conclusion racism and stereotyping played a role.

"There were false assumptions made," said Hill. "That he was drunk. That he was just getting out of the cold. To read those and not come to the conclusion that racism played a role is unlikely."

— Mia Rabson