October 14, 2016
Statement by Attorney General and Justice Minister Heather Stefanson at the Conclusion of Three-day Ministers of Justice and Public Safety Meeting
I welcomed the opportunity to join my federal, provincial and territorial counterparts in Halifax for important discussions around public safety and justice issues facing Canadians and was happy to have had the opportunity to meet with national Indigenous leaders including Manitoba’s David Chartrand, vice-president of the Manitoba National Council.
Manitoba continues to advocate for strengthened and predictable long-term funding partnerships with the federal government to support initiatives that have proven successful. Manitoba is facing increased financial obligations associated with the new First Nation Safety Officer Program following the termination of the previous federally funded Band Constable Program. Manitoba looks forward to commitments of sustainable funding to assist with this and other cost-shared programs as we work with our federal partners to increase efficiency of the criminal justice system and to address the disproportionate representation of our Indigenous population within our province’s correctional facilities.
Our province was quick to pass an order in council to support the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and survivors of violence. We continue to impress upon jurisdictions from across Canada the importance of the work already undertaken in Manitoba and the need for the national inquiry to build upon this work and analysis to ensure that collaborative action is able to bridge the systemic gaps putting Indigenous women and girls at risk.
Manitoba will continue to work collaboratively with other Canadian provinces and I am pleased to be returning home with a number of ideas and innovations that have been pursued by other jurisdictions with positive results in areas as wide ranging as impaired driving, restorative justice and efficiencies within the justice system.
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