Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Northwest Territories will receive more than $688,000 in funding to support five crime prevention projects aimed towards at-risk aboriginal youth, said Rob Nicholson, federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announces nearly $700,000 in youth crime prevention funding last week. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

The Thursday announcement was made on the heels of Nicholson's promise - on behalf of public safety minister Stockwell Day - to grant Nunavut $570,000 for the same purpose.

NWT Justice Minister Jackson Lafferty, set to make the announcement alongside Nicholson, was absent.

"Minister Lafferty was required to be present at a cabinet meeting that went longer than expected," said Brad Poulter, a spokesperson for the GNWT Department of Justice.

"His regards were given to minister Nicholson and both the minister and his staff were fully aware of the situation and were perfectly comfortable with it," added Poulter.

Nicholson said the funding plans were made to suit the territory.

"The initiative we're taking today meets the specific needs of the North," he said. "One size doesn't fit all."

Funding will go towards program areas such as studying the impact of fetal alcohol syndrome in the justice system; addressing early risk factors of students at Yellowknife schools; a South Slave project to engage youth in alternatives to at-risk behaviour; an Aklavik crime-prevention committee; and the Inuvik Youth Centre Society.

"Youth are the future of Canada," Nicholson said. "It's vital that they receive community support."