A justice system that improves public safety and community well-being while addressing the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples is something that all Canadians can be proud to support. Revitalizing Indigenous legal traditions and eliminating systemic racism and discrimination from our justice system will benefit everyone in Canada.

Additional multimedia

“This memorandum of understanding and funding commitment is a critical first step but much work still remains. We have a long road ahead of us but we also have a strong First Nations strategy to guide us and partners who support us. We look forward to working with both the federal and BC provincial government to transform the justice system for Indigenous peoples.”

Doug White, Q.C.
Chair of the BC First Nations Justice Council

“All Indigenous people deserve fair and just treatment in our justice system. Our government is committed to advancing and supporting approaches, such as the establishment of Indigenous Justice Centres and the BC First Nations Justice Strategy, that help address systemic racism and the disproportionate representation of Indigenous peoples in the justice system. I look forward to collaborating with the province of British Columbia and the BCFNJC on this important work.”

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

“An ever-growing disproportionate number of Indigenous people are in our jails, with the fastest growing population behind bars being Indigenous girls. We need to be doing things differently to address this profound crisis and disturbingly enduring provincial and national trend. We’ve already taken significant steps guided by Indigenous people themselves through BCFNJC and local First Nations to move to a justice system that better recognizes the unique justice needs of Indigenous people. I am glad that the Government of Canada will join British Columbia in our partnership with the BCFNJC to further support our commitments to real reform that will make a positive difference for people and communities across our province.”

The Honourable David Eby, Q.C.
Attorney General of British Columbia 

• The signature of the MOU and funding for Indigenous Justice Centres respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 30 and 38, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Call for Justice 5.15.

• Through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada provided $28.6 million over five years to support Community Justice Centre (CJC) pilot projects in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, as well as consultation to expand the CJCs concept to other provinces and territories. The funding for Indigenous Justice Centres falls under this initiative.

• CJCs—including BC’s Indigenous Justice Centres—are an innovative approach for moving justice out of the traditional courtroom, and into a community setting. CJCs bring together justice, health, employment, education and social services to collectively address the root cause of crime, break the cycle, and improve public safety and community well-being. Through the integration of culturally appropriate services, CJCs can help decrease the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system, and provide solutions to systemic issues.

• Four Indigenous Justice Centres are already established in British Columbia—three physical centres in Prince George, Prince Rupert and Merritt, and one virtual centre that serves the rest of the province—with plans for more to be established in the years to come. The establishment of Indigenous Justice Centres across British Columbia is one of the key actions mandated in the BC First Nations Justice Strategy.

• The BC First Nations Justice Strategy calls for 43 actions along two tracks of transformative change. Signed March 6, 2020, the strategy was jointly developed by the BC First Nations Justice Council, BC First Nations communities and the Province of British Columbia. In addition to the reformation of the current justice system, the strategy also seeks to restore First Nations’ legal traditions and structures.

Associated links

• BC First Nations Justice Council
• BC First Nations Justice Strategy
• Fall Economic Statement 2020: Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19
• Justice Partnership and Innovation Program
• Indigenous Justice, Recognition and Reconciliation
• Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

For more information, media may contact:

Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
613-992-6568

Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207
media@justice.gc.ca

Ministry of Attorney General (British Columbia)
Media Relations
778-678-1572

Nancy Argyle
Manager of Media Relations and Special Projects
BC First Nations Justice Council
236-455-0513
nancy@bcfnjc.com

Stay Connected

• Follow the Department of Justice Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
• Follow Minister Lametti on Twitter: @MinJusticeEn
• Subscribe to receive our news releases and more via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/rss.html.