Budget 2005 funding improves justice resources for communities  across Newfoundland and Labrador

Justice Minister and Attorney General Tom Marshall today says a number of Budget 2005 decisions reflect government�s continued commitment to ensure that the provincial justice system has support to protect our communities and residents throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Budget 2005 has taken steps to help alleviate workload pressures within policing and court services," stated Minister Marshall. "We have been closely monitoring the needs of the justice system in the province, and are pleased that today's budget supports calls for improvements in staffing levels which we feel will enhance service delivery and protection for the citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador."

Supporting efforts to increase police resources and enhance public safety, four new Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers will be introduced to communities determined by the priority needs of the RCMP. Provincial funding will also provide support to the National Sex Offender Registry to provide dedicated resources to administer and investigate non-compliance offenders in the province. This includes the addition of one officer to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC), and one officer and one public service employee to the RCMP.

Minister Marshall says that the addition of new officers is a positive move by government. "It is another step to ensure that we protect the residents of the province and provide safe and secure communities."

"The new officers will complement the investments made to both the RNC and the RCMP during the past year to improve resources, equipment and training. We have been working diligently to address policing issues, and are listening to and understand that residents in the province want to feel safe and secure; we will continue to work with both the RNC and RCMP to address future needs of policing to the best of our abilities," he said.

Minister Marshall noted that the training program at Memorial University announced during Budget 2004 will introduce approximately 25 police officers to the RNC in September 2005, and that recruitment is currently underway for the second year of this initiative. These efforts support government�s long-term strategy for the training, development and retention of police officers in the province.

Budget 2005 also provides for seven new Supreme and Provincial court positions to improve the current staff complement. The new positions will help provide more timely transcript production and reduce workload pressures for existing staff. The new positions include five full-time equivalent Provincial Court clerks in St. John�s, Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Wabush; one court clerk for the Trial Division of Supreme Court, and an officer in the Estates Division.

The province continues to work on enhancing the responsiveness of the justice system to the particular needs and interests of our aboriginal population, and currently partners with the federal government to deliver a number of cost-shared programs to our aboriginal population, including participation in the Native Court Worker Program. Government remains committed to assisting aboriginal people and in this regard will increase the grant to $225,400 to Labrador Legal Services for the Native Court Worker Program. The program will be offset by $98,300 in federal revenues.

"We will continue to work on improving legal services. We cannot do everything at once; however we are making progress and will continue to work with police agencies, corrections, courts, and communities across Newfoundland and Labrador in support of positive, strategic investments to ensure long-term improvements to justice services in the province," added Minister Marshall.

Media contact: Heather MacLean, Communications, (709) 729-6985, 690-2498

2005 03 21                  3:25 p.m.