In 2018 professors at Dalhousie convinced its President to form a panel to report on statements and action Ramsay made that gave the strong appearance of racism. Thousands of black refugees, who had been held in slavery in the USA, had been guaranteed freedom, by the British, if they ran away from their masters, during the American Revolution. Most of these former slaves settled in Nova Scotia. Ramsay had tried to induce them to (1) return to their US masters; (2) return to Africa; (3) Leave Nova Scotia for the British colony of Trinidad.