ABORIGINAL RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS

IN ALBERTA TO RECEIVE FUNDING

EDMONTON, November 4, 1999 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable David Hancock, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Alberta, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets the stage for a stronger justice partnership between governments and Aboriginal people in Alberta.

Support for community-based Aboriginal justice in Alberta will be enhanced as a result of this MOU between the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta.

Under this MOU, more Aboriginal communities and organizations in Alberta will be eligible to access program funding through the federal Aboriginal Justice Strategy (AJS). This additional funding will help these communities and organizations develop and implement innovative ideas and approaches for the administration of justice by and for Aboriginal persons -- both adult and youth.

"This MOU is the culmination of concerted effort and recognition by all involved that strengthening Aboriginal community justice programming is the path to healthier and more viable communities," said Minister McLellan.

"This MOU responds in a very practical way to concerns raised by delegates at the Alberta Summit on Justice," said Minister Hancock. "Community-based justice programs and initiatives built on solid partnerships will produce concrete results for all."

The federal Aboriginal Justice Strategy was developed to help support community-based justice programs administered by Aboriginal people. The strategy plays a significant role in the Government of Canada's commitment to a renewed relationship with Aboriginal people, as enunciated in Gathering Strength, Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan. Currently the AJS manages 67 justice program agreements, jointly funded with provinces and territories in communities, providing services in roughly 220 Aboriginal communities on- and off-reserve, in urban areas, and north of the 60^th parallel.

The MOU allows for recognition of existing Alberta contributions to community-based programs, in partial fulfillment of the federal-provincial/territorial cost-sharing requirements under the strategy. Similar understandings have been entered into with Manitoba, Quebec, British Columbia and Yukon.

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Ref.:    

Department of Justice Canada

Line Chabot-Racine
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621

Joanne Archambault
Justice Communications
Aboriginal Justice Directorate
(613) 957-4704

Bentley Hicks
Regional Coordinator, Sask/Alb
Aboriginal Justice Directorate
(306) 975-5214

Alberta Justice

Dave Hancock                                  
Minister of Justice and                       
Attorney General of Alberta                  
(780) 427-2339

Bob Scott
Program Administrator
(780) 427-8530


		Last Updated: 2005-10-20		Important Notices