FRANCAIS

June 21, 2002

Acceptance of the blue print for Aboriginal justice recommended by the recent Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission (AJIC) report is heralding a comprehensive action strategy and new partnerships with Aboriginal governments in Manitoba, announced Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Eric Robinson today, during National Aboriginal Day ceremonies at The Forks.

Robinson was joined by Advanced Education Minister Diane McGifford, Family Services and Housing Minister Tim Sale and Attorney General Gord Mackintosh at the celebration.

"We accept in principle all of the recommendations of the AJIC report--that Aboriginal justice is not only about the criminal justice system but involves much broader issues like child welfare, employment and education, and strengthened communities," said Robinson. "These strategies for improving Aboriginal justice and the quality of life of Aboriginal peoples form a core part of our government's approach to ensuring the social and economic well-being of Aboriginal peoples."

The province has established a committee of cabinet to oversee efforts to implement the recommendations of the AJIC report. The members of the AJIC Committee include the minister of Aboriginal and northern affairs and the attorney general as co-chairs; the minister of family services and housing; the minister of advanced education; the minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission; and the minister of conservation.

To date, 87 per cent of the 54 recommendations in the AJIC report directed at the province are already completed or underway. Robinson said that most of the province's actions to date have been--and must continue to be--outside the justice system, and that the province will be working with the federal government to achieve further progress. The province has committed over $4.5 million in 2002-03 to further implementation of the report's recommendations.

Today, on Aboriginal Day, the ministers announced significant initiatives that build on this progress. McGifford announced that the province will provide $1.4 million over six years to fund a full-time training program for Aboriginal Child and Family Service Workers. The program will be offered in Winnipeg, Thompson and Dauphin and will provide training to 150 students.

"By providing the skills and training for students looking to enter the Aboriginal child and family services field, we are better able to ensure that children and families receive the support and care they require," McGifford said. "We are extremely pleased to work with the University of Manitoba in providing this program in Thompson, Dauphin and Winnipeg."

A process for co-managing natural resources and the establishment of an Aboriginal Resource Council to advise the conservation minister shows that this government respects the special relationship of Aboriginal people to the lands we live in and the resources we use, Robinson noted.

"Our government is working with the Manitoba Metis Federation to develop a Metis policy as recommended in the AJIC report," Robinson said. "We are expanding the focus of discussions with the MMF and the federal government to address conservation and justice issues at the tripartite table."

Attorney General Gord Mackintosh announced that Manitoba's Women's Jail will be replaced with a modern female correctional centre. The consultation process on location and other aspects of the project is beginning now.

"The safety and security of the public is a key priority as we move forward on consultations with Aboriginal governments and other service providers on the development of this new facility," said Mackintosh. "While this project may take several years to complete, we will move immediately to improve programming."

Mackintosh also noted that $500,000 has been allocated to support the process to develop regional Aboriginal probation agencies that will improve public safety through local supervision and support.

On June 10, Family Services and Housing Minister Tim Sale introduced legislation--unprecedented in Canada--to create four new organizations, called child and family services authorities, which will manage the delivery of services under the restructured system.

"As part of our response to recommendations from the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry we worked with First Nations and Metis representatives to develop this legislation," said Sale. "This legislation ensures that Aboriginal communities play a more meaningful and direct role in meeting the needs of children and families." At the ceremony, Sale presented copies of the legislation to MMF and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs representatives.

Robinson added that the province's commitment to partnership with northern First Nations on the development of new Hydro projects will spur economic development and educational opportunities for hundreds of northern residents.

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1. A development plan for Regional Aboriginal Probation Agencies -- Manitoba is committed to develop regional Aboriginal-controlled probation services in a manner that will improve public safety through local supervision and support. A total of $500,000 has been allocated to support the planning process with the Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO), the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF), and the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), with whom Justice has been consulting.
2. Replacement of the Women’s Jail -- Manitoba's Women's Jail will be replaced with a modern female correctional centre. The safety and security of the public is a key priority as the province moves forward on consultations with Aboriginal governments and other service providers on the development of this new facility.
3. Growth of Aboriginal community policing with legislated mandate -- An amendment has been introduced to the Provincial Police Act to ensure that there is a legislative framework to provide for the expansion in the number of First Nations police services. Manitoba continues to consult with First Nations throughout the province with respect to their policing needs and preferences. The process of developing a police service at Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) is currently underway. In addition developmental policing agreements are in place with MKO, the Southeast Resource Development Council (SERDC) and the West Region Tribal Council (WRTC).
4. Aboriginal domestic violence shelter and support centre -- New resources to Ikwe-Widdjiitiwin for expansion of services and larger facility for women and children experiencing domestic violence.

1. The Pas Correctional Centre Aboriginal Community Advisory Committee to be Established -- The new Community Advisory Committee will be established in The Pas to provide advice to management and staff on issues of relevance to Aboriginal offenders including programming opportunities, cultural activities, spirituality and reintegration opportunities.
2. Increased Aboriginal representation on the Board of Directors of Legal Aid Manitoba -- Since 1999 Manitoba has appointed 5 Aboriginal members to the Legal Aid Services Society Board. As a result, 5 of 12 positions are now filled by Aboriginal Manitobans: Wendy Whitecloud, Marlene Campbell, Grace Buhr, Ivan Moose and George Pelletier.
3. Growth of community justice -- Manitoba will build on its history of supporting community justice initiatives by establishing a Community Justice Branch to be responsible for expanding the use of community justice approaches to address offending behaviour in appropriate circumstances and consulting with communities on a number of approaches to enhance public safety.

1. Proposed legislation to create an improved child and family services system that will be more responsive to the needs and cultures of all Manitobans has been introduced in the Manitoba legislature. The historic process of changing the system has been led by the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry Child Welfare Initiative (AJI-CWI), which includes representatives from the provincial government, the Manitoba Metis Federation, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. The proposed Child and Family Services Authorities Act is an important first step toward a new Child and Family Services Act and Adoption Act. The legislation will lay the groundwork by creating four new organizations, called child and family services authorities, which will manage the delivery of services under the restructured system.

1. As part of a government-wide Northern Development Strategy (NDS), Manitoba Conservation is supporting projects focusing on natural resource management and sustainable development initiatives.
2. The Aboriginal Resource Council was established in December 2000 as an advisory body to the minister of conservation. It consists of 13 members from the Aboriginal community, with the minister serving as the co-chair. The council is designed to provide Aboriginal input into program and policy development, and resource issues, and assist in capacity building within Aboriginal communities.
3. Aboriginal Employment Strategy - As of March 31, 2002, 9.6% of the civil service is Aboriginal. In 1983, Manitoba established a target of 10% to be met by the year 2003. The province is committed to increasing Aboriginal employment within government, particularly at senior levels. The Transportation Northern Employment Strategy and the Conservation Aboriginal Employment Strategy are specific examples of comprehensive approaches to Aboriginal employment.
4. Co-management of natural resources (i.e. co-operative management) is a tool that helps address resource management issues and opportunities between government and users by negotiating shared roles and responsibilities, such as involvement in decision-making and monitoring. Manitoba Conservation has established the Co-management Initiative and an Aboriginal Resource Council to advise the minister. The department has also initiated three new prototype co-management agreements with the West Region Tribal Council (WRTC), Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). To date, memorandum of understandings have been signed with WRTC and OCN.
5. The Premier’s Economic Advisory Council benefits from the participation of leading Aboriginal business and community leaders.
6. Amendment of the Mines and Minerals Act to renounce the province’s half interest in mineral development activity on reserve land.

1. The province has established a Committee of Cabinet to oversee efforts to implement the recommendations of the AJIC report. The members of the AJIC Committee include the minister of Aboriginal and northern affairs and the attorney general as co-chairs; the minister of family services and housing; the minister of advanced education; the minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission; and, the minister of conservation.
2. Aboriginal and Northern Affairs is working with the Manitoba Metis Federation on a comprehensive Metis policy through a tripartite process with the MMF and the federal and provincial governments.
3. Amendment of the Interpretation Act to provide that all legislation be interpreted subject to Aboriginal and Treaty rights.