Provinces/Territories

Discussions with the provinces and territories focus on how best to ensure that the Act and the broader Initiative are implemented collaboratively and effectively in a way that addresses the unique needs of each region.

Five-year financial arrangements, worth a total of $950 million, have been negotiated with the provinces and territories to support the implementation of the youth justice legislation and the overall policy objectives of the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative. These agreements:

• promote and support a wide range of services and programs considered most likely to assist in the rehabilitation and reintegration of young people in conflict with the law, and in the reduction of our reliance on the youth court system and incarceration.
• provide greater stability and predictability by including, as a proxy for inflation, a two percent annual increase in the base funding. They also address equity problems in the distribution of federal funding across the country.
• provide for an additional $115 million in bridge funding to promote and support a wide range of services and programs that support the Initiative.

These main agreements expired on March 31^st, 2005 and discussins are underway with the provinces and territories concerning future funding arrangements.

Additional federal funding will also be available, through "supplementary" agreements with the provinces and territories, to support the development of programs required for the implementation of the new "intensive rehabilitative custody and supervision" sentencing option.

Through the Youth Justice Renewal Fund provincial and territorial ministries responsible for youth justice may apply for Grants and Contributions to assist them and their partners in assuming effective roles in the continuing implementation of the Youth Criminal Justice Act that are in keeping with the underlying principles of the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative.