Rioting erupted in Montreal North in August 2008 after the shooting of 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva by police. (CBC)

Racial profiling by officials is a serious problem in Quebec and more needs to be done to address it, the province’s human rights commission said Wednesday.

The commission released a consultation document ahead of hearings planned for May and June to seek solutions.

An investigation, focusing mainly on young people's experiences, was launched after the commission said it had received 100 complaints involving allegations of racial profiling since 2005. More than half of the cases involved police — and seven of those are currently before the province’s Human Rights Tribunal.

Since September, the commission has compiled 150 submissions, including first-hand accounts from young Quebecers, parents, teachers, social workers and community representatives.

The commission examined the educational sector, social services and youth protection, as well as relations with public security officials.

“Every incident of racial profiling carries serious consequences and risks compromising the future prospects of young people at a critical time in their life,” commission president Gaétan Cousineau said in the document.

“[It] can leave them with the impression that, no matter what they do, the fact that they belong to a racialized group will determine how they are treated by representatives of public institutions.”

Young people 'afraid'

Many young people were reluctant to come forward, Cousineau said, noting the commission often had to work with representatives in the community to persuade the young to share their stories.

"They were afraid they would be identified and, if they were identified, that they may suffer consequences," Cousineau said.

Racial profiling is something many residents of Montreal’s Little Burgundy community said they know only too well.

Wallace Erinle, 25, is taking a training course at a local employment centre and said he is trying hard to succeed. But, there are a lot of people out there who take one look at him and have other ideas, he said.

"I was downtown with my friend — we were at a bar, just coming out and some robbery happened at a dépanneur," Erinle recalled. "The cops come, pushing us against a wall saying we fit the description."

Erinle said he was furious — but couldn’t show it.

"You've just got to keep it inside of you," he said, "because they want you to do something stupid so they can say,'We were right about this individual all along.'"

Concerns about racial profiling by police have grown in Quebec after police shot and killed 18-year old Fredy Villanueva in Montreal North in August 2008. The shooting provoked riots in the working-class neighbourhood.

The case is being examined by a coroner's inquest.

Community groups and public institutions have until May 12 to submit their response to the rights commission's document.

The public hearings begin May 26 in Montreal and will also be held in Quebec City and Sherbrooke. The commission is expected to present a final report by December.