Through this project, community members work in partnership with an interdisciplinary group of professionals to find solutions to problems arising from sexual abuse. I note that the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba concluded that the concept was an effective method of responding to sexual abuse and family violence in Aboriginal communities. A formal evaluation of this project is now under way. I am told that restorative justice is a pragmatic approach that brings victims, offenders, and the community together with government to repair the damage caused by crime. This is not a new concept, but it is one that is gaining renewed interest as we seek ways to restore balance and health to our communities.
Aboriginal people continue to be overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
While they make up only 3.8 per cent of the Canadian population, Aboriginal peoples account for 12 per cent of all federal penitentiary admissions and an astonishing 39 per cent of the federal inmate population in the Prairie Region. The Ministry of the Solicitor General has undertaken several initiatives to provide Aboriginal peoples with more effective, and culturally-sensitive treatment in the federal corrections system. Section 81 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act recognizes the importance of involving Aboriginal peoples in the provision of correctional programs and services to Aboriginal offenders. Both the Correctional Service and the National Parole Board have instituted several changes in their approach to dealing with Aboriginal offenders. This year Commissioner Edwards ear-marked an additional one million dollars which is being used to develop training and provide treatment programs to Aboriginal sex offenders.