Speaking Notes for THE HONOURABLE ROB NICHOLSON, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Keynote Address and Presentation of Minister of Justice National Youth Policing Awards

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
August 9, 2009

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Thank you, Deputy Director General Chabot (Sûreté du Québec, President of CACP) for your kind introduction. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I am pleased and honoured to join you here in Charlottetown.

It is an ideal place to gather and reflect on the many issues you face as police chiefs, as well as an important reminder of the goal that your organization and our Government share - safe and healthy communities.

On behalf of the Government of Canada and of all Canadians, I would like to thank all of you for your work in protecting and serving your fellow citizens, as well as to express our deep appreciation to the fine women and men of our country's police forces for being the face of law and order in the communities in which they work so tirelessly. We are truly grateful for your commitment and dedication to communities across Canada.

Our Government also values the opinions and the contributions of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police toward improving our criminal justice system. We are especially grateful for your recent support and your presence last June as we announced the tabling of legislation on investigative powers and technical assistance for law enforcement.

As you know, the Internet, cell phones, and personal digital assistants have provided new ways of committing crimes such as distributing child pornography, as well as enabling criminals to coordinate and plan a wide range of other crimes. The technology available today not only makes these crimes easier to commit, but also harder to investigate.

Our Government understands these concerns, and the Investigative Powers for the 21st Century Act will give investigators the tools and resources they need to fight crimes by, among other things:

• updating current Criminal Code provisions to allow police to obtain transmission data that is received or sent via the telephone or the Internet through production orders;
• requiring, through preservation orders and warrants, that telecommunication service providers keep, for a certain period of time, data related to a specific communication or subscriber if that information is needed in the investigation of an offence;
• making it an offence for two or more persons to agree to or arrange to commit a child sexual exploitation offence by means of telecommunication; and
• modernizing the current tracking warrant provisions to better recognize Canadians' expectations of privacy.

Its accompanying legislation, the Technical Assistance for Law Enforcement in the 21st Century Act, was introduced the same day by my colleague Minister Van Loan. It will require Internet service providers to include interception capability in their networks, and to supply basic subscriber information to law enforcement agencies and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service on request.

Minister Van Loan and I continue to work closely together to ensure that our police forces have the tools and resources they need to protect Canadians - and in particular our children - in today's technological environment.

These proposed bills strike an appropriate balance between the investigative powers used to protect public safety and the necessity to safeguard privacy and the rights and freedoms of Canadians. We are not seeking to expand our investigative powers, but rather to maintain our technical ability to effectively intercept communications in light of the realities of the 21st century.

Our Government has also been focusing on cracking down on gang violence and the activities that finance organized crime. That includes

• taking action against property and auto theft;
• ending the practice of allowing killers who commit first- and second-degree murder to apply for early parole by eliminating the "faint-hope" clause;
• increasing penalties for murders connected to organized crime and gang activity; and
• imposing mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes.

We are also committed to responding to youth crime through fair and appropriate measures to hold young people accountable when they break the law.

We will continue investing in - and broadening the scope of - measures to address the most serious, chronic and violent youth offenders, such as the specialized assessment and treatment services offered under the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision Program.

As well, as part of our National Anti-drug Strategy, our Government is making Canadians more aware of the consequences of using illicit drugs, in addition to supporting initiatives to treat those who do become addicted.

I know that the CACP shares this Government's concern about youth involvement with illicit drugs. My Department is pleased to have contributed to your National Invitational Symposium on Youth Illicit Substance Abuse and the Justice System earlier this year. The issues identified and the evidence gathered at this symposium will support our comprehensive review of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

We all know how dangerous and destructive illicit drug use can be - therefore, it is imperative that these youth have the treatment and support they need to make smart choices.

It is important to keep the conversation going with our stakeholders when it comes to youth justice.

As our Government proceeds with its approach to youth justice, we will need the sustained support of all our partners - among all levels of government, citizen groups, and organizations like the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

Canada's policing community, and the front-line police officers who work directly with young people, have key roles to play in Canada's youth justice system. They understand the importance of reaching out to youth who come into contact with the criminal justice system. They also know that it often takes creative and innovative approaches to reach young people if they are to avoid further criminal activity in the future.

It is a great privilege to personally recognize dedicated officers who work hard to make our communities safer through the Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award, established 10 years ago by the Department of Justice and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

Each year, my Department chooses a recipient or recipients within Canada's police services who display excellence and innovation in dealing with youth who come into conflict with the law. These police officers are successfully working with young people in the justice system to make them more aware of the consequences of their actions, and to rehabilitate and reintegrate them back into society.

This year's recipient - Police Constable Andria Cowan of the Toronto Police Service - has excelled in meeting these criteria.

Her work with the Toronto Argonauts Foundation and its mentoring program has demonstrated a commitment and enthusiasm that can serve as an example to us all as we develop new ways to support youth justice.

Constable Cowan recognized early on the importance of partnerships with organizations such as the Toronto Argonauts, as well as Ontario's Minister of Children and Youth Services and the Department of Justice Canada, in dealing with youth justice-related issues. She saw the value in having professional athletes act as role models to young men in custody, through group discussions and recreational activities. This creative approach has resulted in a drastic drop in recidivism rates for the youth involved in the program, and it could also be replicated in other Canadian cities and professional sports teams.

As this short video demonstrates, we are all benefiting from the commitment and hard work of Constable Cowan, and many more officers like her.

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On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to thank Constable Cowan for her work in advancing youth justice in our communities, as well as each and every police officer for their commitment, dedication and sacrifices in keeping our communities safe.

I will now invite Constable Cowan to the stage to present her with the award.

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Congratulations, Constable Cowan.

To conclude, I would like to thank your organization, on behalf of the Government of Canada, for being a valuable partner in the Minister of Justice National Youth Policing Awards over the last 10 years, for your opinions and your contributions toward improving our criminal justice system, and for serving and protecting Canadians every day.

Thank you.

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