Justice and Public Safety
September 27, 2017

Minister Parsons Announces Justice Summit to be Held in Labrador

Today, the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General announced that a Labrador Justice Summit will be held on October 23, 2017 in Happy Valley Goose Bay. The second event of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador, the purpose of the summit is to bring together key players in the criminal justice system with an aim of making improvements by identifying issues and determining possible solutions and action plans. The first summit was held in St. John’s earlier this year.

Similar to the St. John’s summit, the Labrador Justice Summit will bring together a diverse group of frontline and management justice employees such as the judiciary, police, mental health advocates, representatives of Indigenous organizations, staff from various justice and public safety divisions as well as other community members. Joining the discussion in Labrador will be the Honourable Justice Malcolm Rowe, Newfoundland and Labrador’s first Justice named to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The outcomes of discussions at the summit will inform policies pursued by the Department of Justice and Public Safety going forward in addition to facilitating further constructive dialogue within the justice system in the future.

Invitations to the Labrador Justice Summit will go out later this week.

Quote
“There are big challenges currently facing the justice system in the province, and Labrador faces its own unique circumstances. It is important to bring a diverse group of players in the system together to discuss how our work is connected and how we can better cooperate to improve the justice system. These discussions are crucial in determining the most efficient policies and practices moving forward.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General

- 30 -

Learn More
Collaboration at Justice Summit Identifies Ways to Improve Justice in Newfoundland and Labrador www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/just/0328n03.aspx

Supreme Court of Canada Decision R. v. Jordan scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/16057/index.do

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @JPS_GovNL

Media contact
Lesley Clarke
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 699-2910
LesleyClarke@gov.nl.ca

2017 09 27                              10:40 a.m.