Ottawa laying groundwork for Indigenous justice systems, says Lametti | 24CA News

Justice Minister David Lametti says Ottawa is constructing a basis to permit Indigenous authorized techniques to flourish alongside the Canadian justice system.

Lametti made the remark Thursday on the new Indigenous Peoples Space on Parliament Hill, the place he introduced $1.5 million in federal funding over three years to assist Métis Nation governments develop an Indigenous justice technique.

“When justice is part of a spiritual tradition, when justice is part of a community tradition or a nation’s tradition, it will work better,” Lametti mentioned on the first press convention ever held within the Indigenous Peoples Space.

Rehabilitation over punishment

The federal authorities’s plan to introduce Indigenous-run justice techniques, which is included within the prime minister’s mandate letter to Lametti, is geared toward addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous individuals within the felony justice system.

Despite making up solely about 5 per cent of the inhabitants, First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals account for 28 per cent of all federally sentenced people and 32 per cent of the jail inhabitants, based on the Office of the Correctional Investigator of Canada.

“We know that the overrepresentation of Métis people in the criminal justice system is a serious and complex issue that’s rooted in systemic racism and the legacy of colonialism,” mentioned Cassidy Caron, president of the Métis National Council. 

The Métis National Council, Métis Nation of Ontario, Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, Métis Nation of British Columbia and Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (Women of the Métis Nation) will use the funding to suggest new applications, coverage and laws to cut back the variety of Métis individuals behind bars.

Caron mentioned in addition they will work on revitalizing Métis conventional authorized techniques with a give attention to restorative justice – rehabilitation over punishment.

“It’s re-assuming jurisdiction over the criminal justice system for the Métis Nation,” Caron mentioned.

Lametti hails a brand new interval in Confederation

In Call to Action 42, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission urged the federal, provincial and territorial governments to decide to the popularity and implementation of Indigenous justice techniques. 

The $1.5 million is a part of $11 million put aside within the 2021 federal funds for session on the Indigenous justice technique. 

The cash is rolling out over three years, so the plan is unlikely to be prepared earlier than the following federal election.

Lametti mentioned the federal authorities is laying the groundwork for what he calls a brand new interval in Confederation, “in which … we’re truly living up to this idea of partnership.”

Caron mentioned the technique will stay a precedence for the Métis Nation, no matter whether or not there is a federal election inside the subsequent few years.

“We’ll be moving forward on it regardless of what government is in place,” she mentioned.