I would be happy to, Mr. Chair.
The aboriginal justice strategy is a long-standing program. It was established in 1991. As the minister said previously, there are 275 programs that reach over 800 communities. As was referred to in an earlier question, the origins of the aboriginal justice strategy are in recognition that for many aboriginal people, the encounter with the justice system, particularly in remote and isolated communities, was fly-in fly-out justice that didn't correspond to traditions or have the kind of long-term impact that was desired. These are community-based justice programs, often founded by people who have decided to take leadership in their communities and establish community-based, opt-in diversion programs. These programs support police and prosecutors dealing with low-level offenders, often first-time offenders. They often divert them into community encounter programs with victims and families and the family of the offender. I have been involved in some of them.
One of the most interesting things in this is that evaluations consistently show that for many offenders who have been through the justice system before, this is a harder thing for them to do, to stand before their mother and father, and the mother and father and sister and brother of the victim, and explain why they did what they did, explain the program they're going to work with in their community to try to address it, and to make reparations for what they did, which has often involved low-level theft and other things.
There are programs throughout the country, urban and rural. The question was asked before about how many communities are not reached. We can certainly look at that, but I can tell you that there are programs in the north, and programs in every province and territory, urban, off reserve, on reserve. All are supported by the aboriginal justice strategy. It has been a long-standing program that has reached many communities. It is fully cost-shared with the provinces and territories.