Helen Hopfauf
Solicitor General CANADA
hopfauh@sgc.gc.ca

Kelly Stone
Solicitor General CANADA
StoneK@sgc.gc.ca

Lorenzo Ieraci
Solicitor General CANADA
IeraciL@sgc.gc.ca

Description:

There is increasing pressure on all aspects of the criminal justice system to develop innovative and integrated responses that will enhance social cohesion and maintain public safety as migration to urban centers continues to grow and the Canadian population diversifies through immigration. The objective of this workshop is to discuss some of the challenges of immigration in this regard, as well as current initiatives and future opportunities.

One of the greatest challenges associated with Canada's increasingly diverse population is that the values and belief systems underlying the criminal justice system are being called into question. Depending on their past experiences, new immigrants may bring with them negative perceptions of the criminal justice system which may lead to feelings of fear and distrust of Canadian justice officials. These perceptions can be mitigated only through communication and information sharing. On the other side of the coin, the criminal justice system must evolve to recognize and respond to cultural differences in the Canadian population. In the broader context, all Canadians should be given the opportunity to achieve a greater understanding of the diversity inherent in our neighbourhoods and our society in general.

Panelists will discuss these themes from a variety of perspectives. Workshop participants will then have the opportunity to further the discussion in smaller facilitated break-out groups.

Presenters