Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety

October 15, 2014                                

Alberta hosts  western ministers responsible for justice and public safety

Ministers responsible for justice and public safety from British Columbia,  Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba met in Banff today for discussions about a  broad range of issues that included organized crime and access to justice.

“In the spirit of collaboration, I thank my ministerial colleagues for  their continued willingness to work together to improve access to justice and  promote the safety of our communities.”
Jonathan Denis, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General

The four western provinces have a keen interest in working with the  federal government in resolving the following concerns:
- legal aid;
- RCMP costs;
- First Nations policing;
- drug treatment courts; and
- costs associated with passage  of federal legislation.

Access to justice also remains a priority for the  governments of the four western provinces. Sharing information on initiatives  that improve efficiencies and service delivery is of great value, such as  traffic court reform. In particular, there is the need to improve traffic  safety while also developing a faster, more proportionate, sustainable system  to ensure the timely resolution of criminal, family and civil law matters.

The provinces remain committed to continuing to  work together to further advance their justice systems and respond to  ever-increasing pressures.

The meeting of western ministers kicks off the  Federal/Provincial/Territorial Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Justice and  Public Safety in Banff on October 16 and 17.

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Media  inquiries:
Jessica  Jacobs-Mino
jessica.jacobsmino@gov.ab.ca 780-935-8570
Press  Secretary
Minister  of Justice and Solicitor General
Government of Alberta