Legal Aid Ontario funds extended services

Legal Aid Ontario funding will bring two new community-based services to members of Grand Council Treaty #3. The group is providing $200,000 to hire, train and manage two Gladue caseworkers for one year. These caseworkers will write Gladue reports for Treaty #3 members in Kenora, Fort Frances, Dryden and Sioux Lookout. The reports will be available to accused people facing 90 or more days of incarceration, either at the bail or sentencing stage. Legal Aid Ontario will also provide $200,000 to finance an Aboriginal alternative dispute resolution worker for two years. This worker will arrange circles to deal with child protection issues in collaboration with child and family services agencies. The circles will provide an alternative to family court for First Nation families. “These programs and other restorative justice practices are stepping stones that help address the over-representation of Anishinaabe peoples in the justice system,” said Arthur Huminuk, justice projects coordinator with Grand Council Treaty #3.