SASKATCHEWAN HAS STRONG VOICE AT FPT MEETINGS IN OTTAWA

Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) ministers responsible for justice concluded their meetings in Ottawa today. Justice Minister Frank Quennell and Corrections and Public Safety Minister Peter Prebble were both in attendance to raise issues relevant to both Saskatchewan and Canada.

Both Quennell and Prebble took a leadership role in lobbying the federal government on legal aid funding, funding of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, stricter penalties for crystal methamphetamine trafficking, and reforms to conditional sentencing. The ministers also participated in a first-ever joint session on emergency management to discuss disaster relief, the Anti-Terrorism Act and other security-related issues.

"This conference has been very productive in getting various justice issues on the table, especially those of particular importance to Saskatchewan," Quennell said. "As a province, we have been leading the way in reforms to a variety of justice-related issues crucial to our own province as well as the rest of Canada."

In particular, Quennell took a leadership role in lobbying for a substantial contribution from the federal government to support a civil legal aid program across Canada, which Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler committed to pursue through the federal budget process. Additionally, Quennell raised the need for stricter penalties for crystal methamphetamine-related offences and tighter control and tracking of the ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine. The Federal Minister undertook to give serious consideration to this request.

Saskatchewan also pressed for a presumption against the use of conditional sentences in cases of serious violent crimes.

Prebble pressed the Federal Government to immediately resume and conclude negotiations with provinces and territories to renew funding for the Youth Criminal Justice Act. He also raised the need for federal disaster relief programs to be more broadly designed to include new categories such as wildfires and disasters attributable to global warming. Finally, he was encouraged by work on the development of a national emergency management system in co-operation with federal, provincial and territorial governments.

"I feel that we, as a province, have had our voice heard throughout the course of this conference," Prebble said. "We have lobbied hard with the federal government over the past few days on key issues and I am very satisfied with the progress we have made."

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For More Information, Contact:

Andrew Dinsmore Justice Regina Phone: (306) 787-8606