Justice committee  We have been moving towards a reporting framework around looking at how people change and how the types of programs, opportunities, and things that we offer have made a difference in their lives. That always starts with a strength-based approach. So when people walk in, we're not

Justice committee  Yes, the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre was involved early on in the initial process with Joy Smith, and we are very supportive. When some research done by Benjamin Perrin—I'm sure anybody who knows the issue knows that he's around—shows that a perpetrator in one year makes $280,000

Justice committee  I would like to echo that. It was very important. Certainly in Winnipeg, the aboriginal capital of Canada, it allowed us as a community to sort through what it means and created a unique opportunity for us to really come together and rally around defining what it means. It took a

Justice committee  Community-based agencies have relationships with families in the communities. It's all about the community development approach of building from the inside out. That extends to families and to looking at their gifts and their strengths, within what they are able to.... You honour

Justice committee  I'd like to build on that and incorporate it into responding to the earlier comment. At the end of the day, there are community-based agencies and workers, certainly at this table as well, working front lines in communities, who on an every-day basis are working with the most vu

Justice committee  Organized crime, in regard to exploitation and harming aboriginal women and children, is allowed to flourish because there's a demand for it. If you don't address the demand, they're going to continue making money, so--

Justice committee  One thing is that we do not have a national strategy on this particular issue--exploitation. It doesn't exist. I think only two or three provinces have strategies. So we need a national strategy, a national database, a national sexual offender list. We need to be doing way better

Justice committee  Yes. There need to be the provinces. The vice teams we have across the country need to be leading that strategy, along with community-based agencies that are impacted the most by the activities.

Justice committee  Absolutely. Even with the exploitation. We've had one conviction in Canada since we changed the law in 1997. As of last year, seven Canadians were charged with crimes against children in other countries. Obviously, there's a difference there. As community-based and enforcement..

Justice committee  There are challenges with eradicating the exploitation. But first I'd like to acknowledge that there is a federal committee operated by Senator Roméo Dallaire. Jackie is a member of that committee, and she brings a young person with her every time. The help we need the most is

Justice committee  If we had the laws to be able to call somebody to get help and stop it from happening--

Justice committee  To have the criminal charges.

Justice committee  I would like to bring attention to the reality of community-based agencies, that we are for the most part--certainly here in Winnipeg--already underresourced. While we have the best practices stories, for the most part all of the organizations sitting at this table here hire tho

Justice committee  The Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre operates a safe house for sexually exploited young women, as well as a number of homes that work with young people. Tragically, those kids are all involved in the child welfare system, so the funding and resources to operate those homes are child w

Justice committee  As one of the largest aboriginal organizations here in Winnipeg, we are always looking for ways to be in a meaningful relationship with funding partners. It's a two-way street around really building the relationship with the community to identify what key resources we need to fac