Madam Chair, I think there are a couple of things that will come to the floor here as we sit down and conduct our evaluation of community justice committees. We're trying to understand why some succeed and why others are less successful. We're going to look at best practices and I think there are a couple of issues here. The Member has pointed to authority and making sure that the committees are taken more seriously, have more authority, and I think that that's one of the issues that we need to talk about. But maybe more important is making sure that these committees are relevant in that they have the respect of the people in the communities and are providing programming and are involved in aftercare, are involved in making sure people are adequately reintegrated into the community because these committees don't just on their own go out and dictate sentencing. They work restoratively and they work with both victim and accused to make sure that there is a healing that takes place here. We're looking to get away from the formal court system. So we're looking for something that isn't more of the same. I think we've already got that, Madam Chair. We're looking for another model that can work to bring people and communities back together and do so and allow them to heal. So it's about coming up with relevant programming, as I've indicated. But I think this review that we will conduct -- and we'll come back in the May or June Session, have that discussion with Members -- I think is going to raise a lot of these issues, but I'm prepared to talk about the authorities at that point, too. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Brendan Bell on Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 21st, 2006. See this statement in context.
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 21st, 2006
Page 1207
See context to find out what was said next.