Department of Justice

MINISTER OF JUSTICE DELIVERS FIRST MAJOR PUBLIC ADDRESS ON JUSTICE ISSUES

OTTAWA, August 23, 1997 -- Today, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, delivered her first public address on justice issues to the Canadian Bar Association's annual general meeting.

The Minister used the occasion to issue a challenge to all stakeholders in the justice system: to improve public confidence in our system of justice. "We should not let the strengths of our system mask the challenges we face," stated Minister McLellan. "We share a responsibility to ensure the system we work in enjoys the full confidence of the people it serves."

In her speech, the Minister outlined her priorities in the areas of youth justice, victims'rights, crime prevention, and national unity.

The Minister stressed importance of crime prevention, in order to ensure that there are fewer victims of crime. In fulfilling the government's Red Book promise, Minister McLellan indicated that the government will be committing $160 million to crime prevention, over the next five years.

"We want to help each community deal with the roots of crime by providing funds to foster community-based crime prevention activities, to develop resource materials, to promote promising crime prevention practices and to provide training support and innovative projects," concluded Minister McLellan.

Speaking of the Young Offenders Act, Minister McLellan said her goal is to produce legislation that does a better job of preventing youth crime and deterring and detaining serious offenders.

In the area of victims' rights, the Minister is committed to examining services and programs available to victims, methods of improving information sharing and the identification of new and assertive responses. "Victims do not ask to be part of the criminal justice system; their participation is thrust upon them. Theirs are voices that must be listened to and respected."

Concluding her speech, Minister McLellan addressed the issue of national unity. She also used the opportunity to speak about the Reference to the Supreme Court, and the government's commitment to clarifying the issue of whether the Quebec government has the right to a unilateral declaration of independence.

Copies of the speech are available from Communications and Executive Services at (613) 957-4222.

See Notes for a speech, August 23, 1997

Ref.:  Pierre Gratton
       Press Secretary
       (613) 992-4621