Aboriginal sentencing rules ignored due to lack of funding and interest

Despite certain preventative efforts,over representation of aboriginal people remains on the rise in Canada.

According to the Globe and Mail, aboriginal people remain disproportionately sentenced for crimes than others in Canada, suggesting certain procedures are being overlooked.

13 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada attempted to alleviate some of this disparity through several initiatives.

Gladue reports were enabled as a means to incorporate cultural sensitivities of aboriginal defendants into trials. The reports are meant to allow judges a more holistic look of the defendant. 

However the sentencing rules have been largely ignored by Canadian courts. The Globe and Mail suggests this is due to lack of funding and interest of maintaining.

Though reports have increased in Alberta, it has rarely been completed in Quebec.

Additionally, despite Ontario's infrastructural capacity to do so, it is also guilty of ignoring these reports.

STORY WRITTEN BY: HANNAH BESSEAU