Justice
October 30, 2009
Federal
/ Provincial / Territorial Ministers Committed to
Addressing Key Justice and Public Safety Issues Facing
Canadians
(Fredericton, New
Brunswick) � Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT)
ministers responsible for justice and public safety
concluded their meeting today, after in-depth
discussions on key justice and public safety issues
currently facing Canadians.
The meeting was
co-chaired by the Minister of Justice and Attorney
General of Canada, Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., the
Minister of Public Safety, Peter Van Loan, the New
Brunswick Minister of Justice and Attorney General,
Michael Murphy and the New Brunswick Minister of Public
Safety and Solicitor General, John Foran.
Ministers were provided
with an overview of recent federal legislative
initiatives. Ministers acknowledged the progress made on
combating crime, noting in particular Bills C-25 (Truth
in sentencing), C-14 (Organized crime and the protection
of justice system participants) and S-4 (Identity
theft). FPT Ministers agreed on the need for the
following priority reforms to address organized crime:
bail reform; wire tap reform; drug trafficking; and the
pre-trial process.
FPT Ministers also
acknowledged the seriousness of major economic crime and
the impacts on victims. Ministers agreed on the need to
work together and support coordinated actions.
Ministers discussed
challenges related to addressing victimization of
Aboriginal people, and a range of family law issues.
Ministers continued discussion on access to justice for
people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
In recognition of the
importance of access for children to both parents, FPT
Ministers indicated their support for releasing
Facilitating Access: Report of the Family Justice
Working Group on Parenting and Contact Enforcement and
Jurisdiction.
Ministers discussed the
sentencing of repeat impaired driving offenders and
acknowledged the seriousness of this issue. Ministers
also discussed justice effectiveness issues such as jury
reform, self-represented accused, electronic disclosure,
a report related to self-defence and changes to simplify
the search warrant application process.
Ministers also discussed
the development of national guidelines for conducted
energy weapons.
Changing Face of
Corrections
Ministers discussed the need to continue addressing the
changing face of corrections in Canada. They
acknowledged that progress has been made, specifically
the passage of Bill C-25 which limits credit for time
served in remand.
All jurisdictions agreed
to continue joint FPT work on the sharing of best
practices through Heads of Corrections across Canada.
Mental Health and
Justice
Ministers acknowledged the need to address the
increasing challenges related to mental health issues in
the criminal justice system. They recognized that
consultation with their respective health and social
services ministries is critical. Ministers agreed this
topic would be a standing agenda item for their future
meetings, and called on officials to begin discussions
when they next meet in January 2010.
RCMP Modernization
Ministers were provided with an update on the ongoing
efforts to modernize the RCMP, where governance and
accountability continue to be at the forefront. The most
recent report from the RCMP Reform Implementation
Council was noted, including its positive assessment of
the reform to date. PT Ministers reiterated the
importance of continuing discussions on the RCMP review
and complaints body, and the creation of any future
Board of Management.
First Nations Policing
Program
Ministers were provided with an update on the First
Nations Policing Program, and the current comprehensive
review of the program.
PT Ministers unanimously
endorsed a resolution which asks the federal government
to reaffirm its commitment to the First Nations Policing
Program. All jurisdictions agreed to support the work of
the comprehensive review.
PT Ministers acknowledged
the special circumstances of policing in the North, and
the need to develop a unique Northern policing
framework.
Police Officers
Recruitment Fund
PT Ministers reiterated their position for permanent
federal funding for the Police Officers Recruitment
Fund. The federal Minister of Public Safety indicated
that the federal government had delivered on its
commitment to provide a one-time allocation to assist
the provinces and territories in a manner that respects
their responsibility for the administration of policing.
It was agreed that this item will be on the agenda for
the next Ministerial meeting.
Legal Aid
FPT Ministers agreed to extend the criminal legal aid
contribution agreements for another year, to 2010-2011
and to prepare a FPT business case on criminal legal aid
in the fall of 2010 for presentation to Ministers.
PT Ministers expressed
their perception that there is a lack of federal funding
for civil legal aid and about the immediate need for
additional immigration and refugee legal aid funding.
The federal Minister of Justice reiterated his position
that funds for civil legal aid are part of the Canada
Social Transfer, and that the federal government is
examining the request for increased funding for
immigration and refugee legal aid.
PT Ministers indicated
that they would continue to work on the business case
for civil legal aid, for presentation to ministers next
fall.
Missing Persons
Ministers acknowledged the seriousness of the issue of
missing persons�particularly Aboriginal women and girls�
and the efforts of those who reach out to victims.
Ministers directed officials to report back on efforts
to create a national information database of missing
persons.
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Media contacts:
Mary
Moszynski
Communications Officer
Office of Minister Murphy
Telephone: 506-444-3153 Media Relations
Department of Justice
Telephone: 613-957-4207 |
Pamela Stephens
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
Telephone: 613-992-4621 |
2009 10 30
5:30 p.m.
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