Northern Directions:
A Policy Vision for Justice in the North - A Justice Canada Discussion Paper

March 2006

Vision

Those aspects of our Northern history that were most characterized by restraint and accommodation with the original inhabitants of the North provide us with guidance as to where we want to go in the future. Our vision for the North is that the Department of Justice will play a leadership role using its federal justice mandate to contribute effectively to healthy, safe and prospering northern communities in ways that reflect the unique character, history and culture of the North and its diverse peoples by:

• Pursuing innovation
• Acting horizontally and forming alliances with justice system partners
• Seeking and creating opportunities for more effective interventions, and
• Capitalizing on the influence of the Justice Department.

Implicit in this vision we recognize that traditional instruments of the mainstream justice system in Canada have seriously failed the Aboriginal communities of the North and are not enough by themselves to achieve the sort of peaceful and harmonious communities we desire. For example, in 2002-03, Aboriginal people represented from 76% to 98% of persons in territorial custody, compared to 21% across Canada.[1] It is necessary to be creative and flexible in our responses to criminal behaviour, and to the challenges that arise from the Aboriginal and Inuit land claims, the self government experience, activities related to new economic thrusts, such as mining and pipeline ventures, and the long-standing social issues of the North. It is equally necessary to approach these challenges collaboratively, looking for opportunities to work cooperatively with other federal departments, territorial governments, First Nation, Inuit and Métis governments, and the communities themselves.

Questions for Discussion:

Does this statement of a Vision for Justice Canada address the right issues and challenges?

[1] Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Juristat Vo. 24, no.10, Adult Correctional Services in Canada, 2002-2003.

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