Multi-year restorative justice funding needed

Restorative justice worker Betty Achneepineskum recently faced a layoff due to late federal government funding for Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation’s Restorative Justice program.
Fortunately for the communities she serves, the program’s funding was extended for one year.
“With the new criminal legislation (Safe Streets and Communities Act) that had been passed in March, it really made us apprehensive as to whether or not our program would continue,” said Achneepineskum, who serves the Matawa First Nation remote communities from the NAN Legal Thunder Bay office. “So we were quite happy — we do have a one-year extension so within that time we hope to gather evidence and documentation for us to continue lobbying to have our program continue.”
NAN Legal executive director Celina Reitberger said five Restorative Justice staff faced layoffs due to lack of funding. The Restorative Justice program has been in operation since 2000.
“It was a very difficult time for us all and the clients we serve because we couldn’t take any new referrals until we knew we had the funding to carry on,” Reitberger said.
Reitberger said the funding for the Restorative Justice program ran out a month before Rob Nicholson, minister of justice and attorney general of Canada, announced on April 30 that funding for the Aboriginal Justice Strategy would continue at current levels.
“Our government is committed to keeping our streets and communities safe,” Nicholson said.
“This funding helps make the justice system more effective, fair, and accessible, and ensures value for taxpayers’ dollars. Our government is continuing to support the provision of criminal legal aid for economically disadvantaged persons charged with serious criminal offences and to help Aboriginal communities develop community-based justice processes.”
Nicholson’s announcement stated the one-year renewal of the Aboriginal Justice Strategy would provide $12.5 million to on and off-reserve, urban, rural and northern Aboriginal communities for community-based justice programs.
The federally-led strategy has operated for 20 years to assist Aboriginal communities to develop and implement community-based justice processes that operate within the Canadian justice system. Provincial and territorial governments provide equivalent contributions.
Community-based justice programs are linked to lower recidivism rates, are cost-effective in dealing with non-violent offenders, where circumstances warrant, and help address the high rate of over-representation of Aboriginal people in the Canadian justice system, both as victims and offenders.
Achneepinskum first joined the Restorative Justice team in 2002, after working at NAN Legal since 1992.
“The Restorative Justice program services the Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities and there isn’t any other program like it that exists, so it is a valuable program,” Achneepineskum said. “We have built the relationship in the communities and our credibility within the Euro-Canadian justice system.”
Reitberger is requesting multi-year funding from the federal Department of Justice, noting the program previously received a five-year funding commitment.
“We would either like multi-year funding or better still, annualized funding, so we can carry on and expand what we are trying to do instead of always fighting this uncertainty and loss of momentum when the funding is in jeopardy.”
Jim Beardy, vice-chair for NAN Legal, said the Restorative Justice program has been “very helpful” for community members who come in contact with the law.
“Rather than spending time or going to court to deal with their issues, it’s more appropriate for them to deal with their issues at the community level with the community,” Beardy said.
Beardy fears that community members would once again have to face a court system that does not understand how the communities operate if the Restorative Justice funding ended.
“It would affect them in a very negative way where a lot of people would end up in court, in jail and the community would have no say in the matter,” Beardy said.
Julie Di Mambro, press secretary for Nicholson, said the federal government is committed to enhancing the safety and security of Aboriginal communities.
“Recently we announced that funding for this program will continue at current levels for another year,” Mambro said in an e-mail reply. “As with all our time-limited initiatives, we will review the results they have delivered for Canadians before deciding on next steps.”