Current Press Releases

Canada’s Ministers of Justice have confirmed their commitment to Aboriginal justice issues following a conference in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Minister of Justice Jackson Lafferty attended on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, and lauded the conference’s work.

“With the territorial and provincial Ministers, I am calling for more federal funding for Aboriginal policing,” said Minister Lafferty. “First Nations policing doesn’t just happen on reserves, it happens everywhere First Nations people live. We are asking the federal Minister of Public Safety to provide additional aboriginal policing funding for all of the jurisdictions with large numbers of aboriginal people. This is key to our efforts to get a new agreement with the federal government that would acknowledge that northern policing is unique.”

The Ministers formally supported a comprehensive review of the First Nations Policing Policy, which provides funding and flexible policing models for Aboriginal communities. While that review is underway, the three northern Ministers will continue to work on implementing a territorial policing policy framework designed to address the unique needs of Northern residents.

At the meeting, Minister Lafferty gave a presentation about access to justice for people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and spoke with the other Ministers about the use of conducted energy weapons, also known by the brand name Taser.

For more information, contact:

Andrew Matthews
Communications Officer
Office of the Premier & Executive Council
(867) 669-2302