NAN deputy grand chief to co-chair jury review implementation committee

Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler has been appointed co-chair of Ontario’s recently announced Jury Review Implementation Committee.
“NAN has fought for years to uncover the truth about the systematic exclusion of First Nations from the Ontario justice system,” Fiddler said. “I look forward to working with the Ministry of the Attorney General to ensure that all First Nations can exercise their right to serve on juries and to ensure that there is a path forward to achieving justice for First Nations.”
Fiddler will co-chair the committee with Irwin Glasberg, Ontario’s assistant deputy attorney general. The Ontario government immediately committed to establishing the committee after it was recommended in the First Nations Representation on Ontario Juries report, delivered this past February by former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci.
“The release of the Hon. Frank Iacobucci’s report on the jury roll was a key first step towards ensuring that First Nations are adequately represented in the Ontario justice system and I will be pleased to assist with the next vital steps in this process,” Fiddler said. “I look forward to working to ensure that the recommendations of Justice Iacobucci’s report are implemented in a way that truly addresses the crisis of First Nations in the justice system.”
The committee is expected to be established later this summer after the committee members, including First Nations leaders, public servants and others in the justice sector are selected. Fiddler and Glasberg are responsible for providing advice on the selection of committee members.
“Deputy Grand Chief Fiddler’s expertise and passion for improving our justice system in Aboriginal communities make him a tremendous asset to the implementation committee,” said Attorney General John Gerretsen. “By working together as partners, I’m confident we can find timely and effective solutions to address the under-representation of First Nations people on juries.”
The Ministry of the Attorney General also committed to implement Iacobucci’s recommendation to establish an advisory group to provide the attorney general with advice on broader justice issues affecting First Nations. This committee will likely be established by this fall.
Iacobucci was appointed to report on First Nation representation on Ontario jury rolls in August 2011 following court decisions questioning the validity of jury rolls with respect to representation by First Nations.
In addition to the implementation committee and advisory group recommendations, the report also called for the Ministry of the Attorney General to conduct studies on legal representation, policing issues and a review of the Aboriginal Court Worker program, for input by the implementation committee.