Federal and provincial governments announce access to justice initiatives in BC

The federal and provincial governments have announced initiatives to improve access to justice for Indigenous people in British Columbia.

Indigenous justice centres (ICJs)

The BC government has announced the opening of Indigenous justice centres (IJCs) in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Surrey, and Kelowna. These newly operational centres are part of the BC First Nations Justice strategy – a collaboration between the British Columbia First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) and the province that aims to establish 15 IJCs throughout the province by 2025.

Indigenous people make up approximately 5 percent of the population in BC, but they account for approximately 30 percent of those incarcerated provincially. The provincial government said that a key part of making communities safer is addressing why people encounter the justice system in the first place so it can be prevented from happening.

Each of the new IJCs will offer services to Indigenous people facing criminal or child protection legal matters. The range of services and the focus in each location will vary based on the needs, strengths, and services already available in each community. Each IJC was designed collaboratively to ensure they meet the local needs.

"Everyone deserves equitable access to legal services," said BC Attorney General Niki Sharma. "In addition to being culturally safe, community-based spaces, these regional IJCs can be sites for dialogue and support for First Nations to develop justice solutions at the community level, partner on local priorities, expand their services or revitalize their legal orders."

BC First Nations justice strategy

Key government officials and Indigenous leaders from Canada and British Columbia convened for the second annual tripartite meeting. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada; Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs; Niki Sharma, Attorney General of British Columbia; and Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia, engaged with Kory Wilson, Chair of the BCFNJC, and its directors.

The key officials gathered at the recently established ICJ in Vancouver to discuss the advancements in justice issues outlined in the BC First Nations justice strategy. In August 2021, the Department of Justice Canada (JUS), the Government of BC and the BCFNJC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), committing to work together to advance shared First Nations justice priorities – including through the BC strategy and Canada's development of a federal Indigenous justice strategy.

During the meeting, key officials discussed aligning the BC strategy with provincial and federal Indigenous justice initiatives. Key points included new priorities impacting Indigenous justice and envisioning support for restoring First Nations legal traditions and structures. The BC strategy's role in informing the federal Indigenous justice strategy was also a focal point during the meeting.

"We are moving forward together in transforming how BC First Nations interact with the justice system and creating a more culturally responsive, fair and accessible justice system for all," Minister Virani said. "I look forward to advancing this, and other Indigenous justice priorities, including our federal Indigenous Justice Strategy, to address systemic racism and overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in the Canadian justice system."