Mr. Speaker, addressing the distinctive needs and interests of aboriginal offenders has long been of vital importance to the Nation Parole Board.
Aboriginal people are widely overrepresented in federal corrections. While they represent 3% of Canada's total population, they account for nearly 15% of the incarcerated population. That proportion is even higher in the prairie provinces.
The disproportionate number of incarcerated aboriginal offenders presents significant challenges that can only be met with cross-cultural awareness, sensitivity, creativity and innovation. One of the most recent innovations introduced by the National Parole Board has been the use of native elders to assist at parole hearings.
Another innovation, which is still very much in the experimental stage, is the concept of releasing circles as an alternative to more traditional methods of assessing community support.
The 100th anniversary of conditional release in Canada and the 40th anniversary of the National Parole Board provide the House with a unique opportunity to recognize all their good work.