Justice (25-42)

Current Reality

Dec. 17, 2021: APTN – Ivan Zinger, the Correctional Investigator issued a report indicating that incarceration rates for Indigenous people on federal prisons has increased to 32% and almost 50% for Indigenous women despite only composing less than 5% of the population in Canada
Office of the Correctional Investigator. Government of Canada.

April 19, 2021: Budget 2021 invests $992.8M in three program areas:

• MMIWG: $57M over 5 years “to enhance supports for Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations and implement monitoring programs
• Indigenous Policing and Community Safety Services ($861 over 5 years)
• Access to Justice services ($74.8M over 3 years)

PLUS

• Violence Prevention Strategy from 2020 Fall Economic Statement: $781.5M over 5 years

Other funds allocated to MMIWG initiatives are actually already allocated to other program areas including:

• Health and Wellness: $139.2M
• Language and Culture: $453M

Jan. 21, 2020: Toronto Star – The same urgent calls to action are raised in the final reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), as well as two recent parliamentary committee studies on Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system. These bodies have called upon the federal government to implement measures recommended by the Office including:

• Transfer resources and responsibility to Indigenous groups and communities for the care, custody and supervision of Indigenous offenders.
• Appoint a Deputy Commissioner for Indigenous Corrections.
  Increase access and availability of culturally relevant correctional programming.
• Clarify and enhance the role of Indigenous elders.
• Improve engagement with Indigenous communities and enhance their capacity to provide reintegration services.
• Enhance access to screening, diagnosis and treatment of Indigenous offenders affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
• Develop assessment and classification tools responsive to the needs and realities of Indigenous people caught up in the criminal justice system.

As Dr. Ivan Zinger, the correctional investigator concluded: “It is not acceptable that Indigenous people in this country experience incarceration rates that are six to seven times higher than the national average. Bold and urgent action is required to address one of Canada’s most persistent and pressing human rights issues.”

https://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/comm/press/press20200121-eng.aspx