The Provincial Government of British Columbia has an active RJ program. The new NDP administration is promising to expand it.
These are exciting times for restorative justice lawyers across the province. As reported by CBC, the new Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth, is fully supportive of expanding existing restorative justice initiatives based on their proven success:
“We have seen restorative justice work in community programs in B.C. and in other jurisdictions”
The article also discusses the important upcoming Canadian Bar Association report on restorative justice. In the meantime, the CBABC has expanded the Powell River restorative justice program, and we’ve heard talk of further expansion to adjacent jurisdictions.
While it remains early days, there is reason for optimism.