Minister MacKay Announces an Additional $11.1 Million in Funding for the Aboriginal Justice Strategy

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 14, 2015) - Department of Justice.

Today, Justice Minister Peter MacKay announced that the Government of Canada will provide an additional $11.1 million in funding for the Aboriginal Justice Strategy, a program which aims to help address the disproportionately high rates of victimization, crime, and incarceration experienced by Aboriginal peoples.

Through the Strategy, the Government works with provinces, territories and Aboriginal communities to support community-based justice programs. These programs provide an alternative to the mainstream justice system for less serious offences in appropriate circumstances. These programs also enable Aboriginal people to assume greater responsibility for the administration of justice in their communities and strengthen the voice of victims.

As part of Economic Action Plan 2014, the Government had already committed to invest in the Aboriginal Justice Strategy by providing $22.2 million over two years. The funding announced today will extend the Government's support of this important work to include an additional $11.1 million for fiscal year 2016-2017. This funding will support approximately 275 community-led programs that serve more than 800 urban, rural, and Northern communities, both on- and off-reserve.

Quick Facts

• The Strategy consists of two key funds. They are:

• The Community-Based Justice Fund, which supports community-based justice programs in partnership with Aboriginal communities. Programs are cost-shared with provincial and territorial governments and are designed to reflect the culture and values of the communities in which they are situated; and

• The Capacity-Building Fund, which helps strengthen training and professional development for existing Aboriginal community justice programs, and fosters partnerships between the mainstream justice system and Aboriginal communities.

• The Aboriginal Justice Strategy is part of the Government's Plan for Safe Streets and Communities. This Plan focuses on tackling crime, enhancing victims' rights, and ensuring a fair and efficient justice system.

• As a result of the role Aboriginal Justice Strategy programs have in holding offenders accountable, the Strategy was identified as one of the federal government's responses to violence against Aboriginal women. This was outlined in the Government of Canada's Action Plan to Address Family Violence and Violent Crimes Against Aboriginal Women announced on September 15, 2014.

Quotes

"Over the years, community-based programs across the country have delivered results in reducing crime and victimization in Aboriginal communities, lowering recidivism, and reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal Canadians in the corrections system. I am pleased that, through this funding, our Government will continue to support the success of this important work."

Peter MacKay

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Associated Links

Aboriginal Justice Strategy

Community-Based Justice Fund

Capacity-Building Fund

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