Actions and Commitments: Call to Action # 31
Exploring Theme: "Actions to Reduce Overrepresentation"
Updates on this page: 34
January 30, 2024
Empowering communities to boost access to justice
NationTalk: A new one-time grant will support community-based initiatives to increase access to justice for Albertans. Resolving legal issues outside the traditional court system can be less stressful on the parties involved, less expensive and faster than going to court, and a growing number of Albertans have shown a preference for resolving issues within their...
April 14, 2023
New program to house, help Indigenous women who are released from jail opens in Saskatoon
Saskatoon Tribal Council will operate program with support from all levels of gov’t. CBC News: The doors are officially open on a new housing unit in Saskatoon built to help women transition back into the community after leaving jail. Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) is in charge of Īkwēskīcik iskwēwak, which is Cree for women turning their lives...
March 31, 2023
New Indigenous Justice Centre coming to Kelowna
INDIGENOUS JUSTICE CENTRES Photo: BCFNJC Indigenous residents in Kelowna will be able to access “culturally appropriate justice services” by the end of this year. Earlier this week, the BC First Nations Justice Council announced five new Indigenous Justice Centres that are being built across the province, in Kelowna, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo. The council says the...
February 7, 2023
Manitoba Indigenous organizations taking the lead on court supports
Delivery of the Indigenous Court Work Program is being transferred to four groups CBC News: The Manitoba government is restructuring the Indigenous Court Work Program and providing funding to help support Indigenous people involved in the justice system. The process of transferring the delivery of the program, which helps Indigenous people navigate the system, from the province...
May 26, 2022
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador invests in Restorative Justice initiative
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: $600,000 in funding to a restorative justice initiative led by Relationships First: Restorative Justice Education Consortium-NL. Relationships First: Restorative Justice Education Consortium-NL, which is chaired by Dr. Dorothy Vaandering and Dr. Rose Ricciardelli, aims to nurture and support relational organizational cultures where children, youth, and adults alike thrive. The funding,...
March 14, 2022
Restorative Research, Innovation and Education Lab at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University
Dept. of Justice: Government of Canada is providing financial support to the Restorative Research, Innovation and Education Lab (Restorative Lab) at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, to accelerate the development of restorative justice across Canada. The institution has received $644,508 in funding over four fiscal years starting in 2019 through the federal...
January 20, 2022
BC First Nations Justice Strategy
Dept. of Justice, Canada – Announcement of the signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) between BC, Canada and BC First Nations Justice Council to support the implementation of the BC First Nations Justice Strategy, as well as funding to support Indigenous Justice Centres in British Columbia. The parties have committed to work together...
January 6, 2022
Opposition to Gladue Reports
Cabin Radio – Gladue reports are not used and the territorial government says it is not considering using them any time soon. Instead, “Gladue factors” are often incorporated into other forms of pre-sentencing report or presented as evidence by defence lawyers during sentencing and bail hearings. Justice minister RJ Simpson said that while Gladue reports...
November 18, 2021
Alberta Community Restorative Justice Grants.
A total of $720,000 is available for organizations that help resolve disputes and promote meaningful alternative dispute resolutions that hold offenders accountable while addressing victims’ needs. This approach provides better outcomes for victims, lowers reoffending rates and helps ease the burden on the court system. Last year, funding went to 22 organizations. Non-profits can apply...
June 29, 2021
Transition of Indigenous Court Workers Program to Indigenous organizations
The Manitoba government will transition operations of the Indigenous Court Workers Program to Indigenous rights holder organizations in key regional and circuit court locations through an annual grants of over $1M a year for two years. The funding will go to Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF), the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) and...
June 7, 2021
Investments to improve justice in Aboriginal and urban communities
14.1-million investment over four years to implement measures to support justice in Aboriginal and urban communities. The first measure will fund urban community justice programs, mainly through Aboriginal friendship centres. Such initiatives are essential to ensure community-based prevention, guidance, and community mediation services, but also to establish adaptability programs such as the alternative measures program. The...
March 5, 2021
Funding for increased deployment of courtworker services
As part of the government’s response to the Viens Commission, the MMIWG Inquiry and the Report on Racism, funding for an increased deployment of courtworker services for Indigenous people ($6 million): Adjustment of the compensation for courtworkers already employed ($1 million); Increased funding for the operation of Indigenous organizations responsible for providing courtworker services ($2.5...
November 30, 2020
Implementation of Gladue Principles in the mainstream justice system
These investments will help organizations support rehabilitation of individuals who are in conflict with the law by offering support and solutions, build resilience and a sense of dignity among those impacted by harm, and take into consideration the safety of the communities. The 2020 Fall Economic Statement included $49.3 million to support the implementation of...
November 18, 2020
12 restorative justice projects
Department of Justice Canada – In recognition of Restorative Justice Week (November 15-22) a total of 12 restorative justice projects are being supported through three programs: Justice Canada’s Indigenous Justice Program, Justice Partnership and Innovation Program and Youth Justice Fund. Of the total funding, $5 million goes to research, awareness raising and education activities, including capacity-building...
September 30, 2020
Premier apology to Indigenous and Black citizens for systemic racism in justice
Toronto Star – Premier Stephen McNeil apologized to Black and Indigenous Nova Scotians for systemic racism in the provincial justice system and said the government is committed to reform. McNeil said he putting together a restorative justice team composed of members of the Black and Indigenous communities, as well as members of government and the police,...
June 10, 2020
The Restorative Research, Innovation & Education Lab (RRIELab)
The Restorative Research, Innovation & Education Lab (RRIELab) located in the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University will be led by a fully funded chair held by Professor Jennifer Llewelyn, a distinguished global leader in restorative justice. The lab’s vision is to be a global centre of excellence that will accelerate the growth and...
March 2, 2020
Investments in restorative justice programs
The Manitoba government is investing more than $2.8 million in restorative justice programs this year, an increase of $400,000 over the previous fiscal year. This increase includes additional investments of $50,000 with both Manitoba Métis Federation and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. The province is providing a $35,000 grant for the City of Thompson to work with...
January 13, 2020
First Indigenous court in New Westminster
The province’s first Indigenous court was established in New Westminster in 2006, with the seventh scheduled to begin sitting monthly at the Williams Lake courthouse in May. An Indigenous court is a sentencing court — it does not conduct trials, but it provides an Indigenous perspective, based on a holistic and restorative approach, to sentencing...
September 19, 2019
Funding to improve access to justice for Inuit
Announced almost $2 million in funding over a two-year period to improve access to justice for the Inuit population to provide support for community members involved in the court process. The investments planned are as follows: $675,000 to be paid in 2019-2020 to correct the shortage of parajudicial advisors and upgrade services, in particular through...
July 9, 2019
Gladue Rights Research Database now has open access
In what started May 2018 as a subscription-based online resource, the Gladue Rights Research Database now has open access through funding from the Law Society of Saskatchewan, Legal Aid Saskatchewan and the province’s Ministry of Corrections and Policing....
May 17, 2019
Review of Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) Deskbook
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) Deskbook sets standards of conduct for federal prosecutors to ensure the objectivity, fairness, transparency, and consistency of prosecutions through a compilation of directives and guidelines. The PPSC’s National Committee on the Interaction of Indigenous Peoples with the Criminal Justice System is reviewing the PPSC Deskbook to incorporate Truth...
March 28, 2019
A holistic approach to justice that aligns with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles
Launch of a new pilot project this week to help address issues of mental health, trauma and addictions in the territory’s justice system through a new therapeutic justice program pilot in Cambridge Bay on April 1. The Justice Department calls the new program “a holistic approach to justice that aligns with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles:” “This...
March 6, 2019
Pilot Gladue report writing program update
Representatives from the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and the Yukon Legal Services Society say it’s still too early to tell what difference the pilot program is making, but it’s provided a structured way to get necessary information before Yukon courts. Roster of 3 writers trained, 37 reports written for Indigenous offenders since pilot...
February 26, 2019
Fair Treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Criminal Prosecutions in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Crown attorneys are now guided by a new comprehensive policy “Fair Treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Criminal Prosecutions in Nova Scotia” when conducting criminal prosecutions involving Indigenous peoples in accordance with the established special legal and constitutional status of Indigenous peoples. The policy references: years of dislocation, lack of economic opportunity, forced family disruption...
February 15, 2019
Nunavik Community Justice Center
Opening of a new community justice centre for Nunavik in the Inuit community of Inukjuak to provide legal information, support and referral services to the general public, free of charge, to complement the services offered by other resources. Makivik Corporation has established the Nunavik Community Justice Center to give Inuit in Nunavik access to relevant...
November 3, 2018
Eleventh Justice Summit: Indigenous II
Nov. 3-4, 2018: Planned in partnership with representatives from the B.C. Aboriginal Justice Council and the Métis Nation British Columbia, the event invited Indigenous leaders and community experts, as well as justice and public safety leaders, to discuss Indigenous peoples’ experiences with B.C.’s justice system and how the system can be improved. Participants discussed the importance...
July 18, 2018
Restorative justice programs
$360K in grants have been awarded to 16 organizations across Alberta to support voluntary restorative justice programs. Restorative justice focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community. These programs are an alternative or supplement to any sentence and can be initiated at any time during the criminal justice process....
May 15, 2018
Gladue Rights Research Database
The new Gladue Rights Research Database provides lawyers, researchers and others with instant access to the insights and conclusions of more than 500 academic works related to the history of settler colonialism in Saskatchewan. It also includes a large and growing body of oral history resources and key archival documents. The database which was officially launched in...
April 6, 2018
Special court opened on Wagmatcook First Nation
A special court opened on the Wagmatcook First Nation in Victoria County, Cape Breton, that combines provincial court services, along with Aboriginal Wellness court and Gladue court. (CBC News)...
March 9, 2018
Criminal Justice System Modernization Strategy
Criminal Justice System Modernization Strategy: One of the four strategies is to more effectively using restorative justice to hold less-serious offenders accountable to victims and address the root causes of their criminal behaviour outside the traditional criminal justice system. These approaches help repair the harm done to victims while advancing the mission of reconciliation with...
February 20, 2018
Funding for pilot Gladue Report writing program for Indigenous offenders
Yukon is funding a $530,000 three-year pilot project to develop a Gladue Report Writing program for Indigenous offenders to formalize and standardize the process of writing Gladue reports for judges sentencing Indigenous offenders....
February 12, 2018
Mi’kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island Tripartite funding agreement with PEI
Five-year tripartite funding agreement with the Province of Prince Edward Island and the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island (MCPEI). This agreement, which will total $600,000, will fund the MCPEI’s Indigenous Justice Program and support community-based justice programming and projects such as justice circles, including accused, victims, families and the community. It also works to...
January 2, 2017
New guidelines for Gladue/Indigenous Peioples’s courts
Ontario has 15 Gladue/Indigenous People’s courts. New guidelines for the establishment and scheduling of Ontario Court of Justice’s specialized criminal courts including courts dedicated to addressing the over-representation of Indigenous persons in the justice system, were introduced. Aboriginal Legal Services prepares Gladue reports for 22 courts throughout Ontario...
January 1, 2017
Educational workshops for lawyers on Gladue court
Under the auspices of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association (CLA), a series of educational workshops (Jan-June 2017) organized by Shaunna Kelly, Hicks Adams LLP aims to demystify aboriginal justice issues to boost awareness and understanding of Gladue Court....
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