Across the country, governments, police, lawyers, judges and community partners are working with communities and families to prevent youth involvement in crime and ensure a fair and effective youth justice system. The Government of Canada is pleased to support the innovative work done by its partners to help help youth who have been in conflict with the law.
Today, on behalf of the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, announced funding of $672,000 over three years to Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia to address existing youth justice service gaps in rural areas of the province.
Funding for the Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Reduced Recidivism of Criminalized Youth in Yarmouth, Antigonish, and Truro project will help the organization deliver individualized case management and intervention plans, including gendered and cultural supports, mental health services, educational assistance, and housing access services to youth.
The project will hire three Youth Justice Coordinators for the areas of Yarmouth, Antigonish, and Truro to identify and address gaps in existing supports for youth involved in the criminal justice system. They will then establish collaborative networks to deliver programming to help youth rehabilitate and reintegrate into their communities.
Justice Canada is providing $672,000 in funding for this project over three fiscal years (2024 to 2027) through the Youth Justice Fund.This will help enhance the youth justice system's effectiveness, address emerging youth justice issues, and promote citizen and community involvement. The fund supports projects that bridge gaps in services for Indigenous, Black and other racialized youth who are overrepresented in the youth criminal justice system across the country.
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization that addresses root causes of criminalization of women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals. It assists vulnerable populations to heal and develop stronger community connections, and supports their access to justice through advocacy, guidance and legal representation.
