Building on efforts to enhance public safety, and to ensure confidence that the province has a strong, modern and responsive justice system, the Provincial Government is further investing in public safety and public well-being in Newfoundland and Labrador in line with identified needs of stakeholders and communities across the province.
The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, today announced nearly $24 million for new tools and technologies to enhance access to justice and strengthen public trust in the justice system.
This multi-year investment supports:
- 25 new correctional officers
- 18 new Crown attorneys
- 14 new deputy sheriffs
- Manager of court security for Labrador
This funding also supports the digital transformation of the entire justice system, upgrading systems, hardware, software, and processes to improve access to justice and streamlines service delivery. These upgrades will ensure the provincial justice system is modern, effective, and efficient, benefiting all aspects of the system, including courts, police, corrections, probation, victim services, and public prosecutions.
This builds on the nearly $20 million investment to support public safety initiatives announced by Minister Davis last week (November 5). That funding includes the establishment of a provincial, 10-member Joint-Task Force Unit comprised of RNC and RCMP officers to target weapon, drug and contraband enforcement and critical incident response activities. The $20 million investment also includes:
- Five new RCMP officers for Happy Valley-Goose Bay, as recommended in the public safety review completed by the Policing Transformation Working Group.
- An additional 19 police officers, starting in 2026-27. These officers will be allocated based on a review of resource requirements, led by the Policing Transformation Working Group.
- A RNC leadership position for the intimate partner violence unit.
- Support for ongoing police training, equipment, fleet, and operational requirements, as required for these initiatives.
In addition to public safety investments announced in November 2024, the Provincial Government has allocated nearly $40 million over the past five years to support the RCMP and RNC. Budget 2024 includes funding for 10 new frontline police officers for the RNC, along with continued resources to combat gun and gang activity. It also provides an extra $3 million to support RCMP operations, building on the $17 million allocated to the RCMP in 2022.
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“This is another step in our government’s approach in strengthening the continuum of justice. By investing in additional resources, we are ensuring the safe operation of courts and correctional facilities, while also modernizing our system to increase satisfaction with the administration of justice in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Justice and Public Safety
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