And Justice For All

Minister of Justice says rehabilitation funding will be “case-by-case” funding

CAPTION: Federal Minister of Justice Robert Nicholson, left, stands with Atlantic Police Academy executive director Edgar MacLeod Thursday morning after a crime roundtable held at the Academy’s facility in Slemon Park. PHOTO Ryan Quigley / Journal Pioneer

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE- The Federal government will take it on a case-by-case basis for providing funding for provincial rehabilitation programs, said Minister of Justice Robert Nicholson.

The Minister was in Summerside Thursday morning for a roundtable on crime at the Atlantic Police Academy. The minister met with officials from the province, particularly in Summerside, to hold a closed forum on crime, something he’s done in several other provinces.

“These have been helpful to me for the past number of years I have been justice minister,” said Nicholson. “I think it went very well I’m always looking for insight and input into people, with the challenges that we have with law enforcement, crime, causes of crime, the consequences of crime.”

Nicholson said the roundtable’s consensus was that the local crime issue is complex.

“I was pleased to tell them I believe a comprehensive approach is important,” he said. “We talked about the challenges that happen in Summerside and elsewhere with people getting involved with drugs.”

Nicholson is part of the Canadian government’s quest to crackdown on crime.

In February, police in Prince County listed prescription drugs as the number one drug problem here. With prison sentencing for drugs comes rehabilitation, which need money. Nicholson said the federal government will listen to provinces when it comes to funding, but will give money on a case-by-case basis.

“There are existing government programs and I always encourage people when I go across the country to make us of them,” said Nicholson. “Our national crime prevention strategy and national anti-drug strategy is a good one to try to get the message out to young people to stay away from drugs.”

With more prison sentences comes the need for more prison guards.