Restorative justice has made a big impact on many people's lives, both those committing crimes and victims of those actions. But the program is on life support due to a lack of senior government funding. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

overworked

Nanaimo council ‘quite alarmed’ at lack of funding for valuable restorative justice program

Oct 18, 2024 | 5:25 AM

NANAIMO — Increasing capacity for a locally run restorative justice campaign will be included in upcoming City budget discussions.

Councillors unanimously, albeit somewhat reluctantly, voted to include a $100,000 increase in their financial support to Nanaimo’s Restorative Justice Program, run by Connective (formerly John Howard Society).

The program works with offenders and victims of crime to create programs for those convicted to meet in order to avoid jail sentences or get stuck in a repeating cycle of offending.

“[The program offers] an opportunity for offenders to take responsibility for their actions and really understand the harm they’ve caused,” Kluane Buser-Rivet, program manager, told Councillors on Wednesday, Oct. 16. “Address root causes of behaviour and support offenders to address underlying issues.”

The proposed increase would take the City’s share of the program’s current $83,000 budget from $50,000 to $150,000 and allow for a more robust team to handle a growing waitlist of cases.

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Councillors will make the final decision on the level of their financial commitment during budget discussions later this year and in early 2025.

Buser-Rivet said the program has run in Nanaimo since 1998 with annual funding from the City at a consistent $50,000, but caseload and complexity have increased exponentially.

She is the only staff member, working 25 hours per week.

An increase in funding to $150,000 would see her role increase to full-time, and a second person hired in support. Although she admitted five people would be an ideal situation to handle caseloads.

The program works with people aged eight to 80 years old, with a roughly 50-50 split between youth and adult offenders.

Referrals are made from RCMP or the court system with a majority of crimes involving assault, uttering threats and theft.

A pie chart showing case distribution over the last 12 months through the restorative justice program, with crimes offenders were found guilty of. (Connective)

Buser-Rivet said having offenders travel through the program, develop an understanding of their actions and emerge on the other side as better-functioning members of society has direct and indirect benefits.

“There are cost savings to supporting restorative justice in community, in particular, that is through saved policing time. In particular with complex youth files police are sending to us, we’re able to take over, work with the schools, work with the parents and save them time there.”

Nanaimo’s team handles a similar number of cases to Victoria, according to Buser-Rivet, but the program on the south Island has five staff and 80 volunteers, compared to one staff member and 10 volunteers locally.

Despite overwhelming support for the work done by the program, councillors struggled with adding more City funding for something not their responsibility as a municipal government.

Provincial and federal governments handle most aspects of the criminal justice system, with the province contributing $26,479 to the Nanaimo program annually.

“I’m really quite alarmed to hear that provincial and federal funding sources are so minimal and I’m really concerned the onus for this program…has apparently fallen on the back of municipal taxpayers,” coun. Ian Thorpe said.

“I personally find it terrible that the federal and provincial government are not working on these programs which, to me, are extremely valuable,” coun. Sheryl Armstrong added.

Coun. Ben Geselbracht, who led the charge for a $150,000 starting point at budget deliberations, said the funding level was about sending a message to senior government.

“When we show up to talk to…whatever ministers are involved in making the decisions around this, because it is pie in the face of the provincial government that there’s not the proper funding in place. If we come to the table supporting two full-time positions…we’re going to be taken seriously.”

Mayor Leonard Krog took a self-described “swipe” at NDP leader David Eby and attorneys general over the years for not increasing funding.

He added a specific dollar figure could be debated later, and the lack of support from senior government was “ridiculous”, but local money now could prove a good investment later on.

“We have to raise taxation to pay for policing and if you take 10 files out of the justice system on an annual basis, the police time, the witness cost, the cost of a trial, the cost of prosecution…and you keep 10 people from being repeat offenders, I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say…you will probably save $85,000 right there and easily $150,000 depending on the level of the crime.”

The financial request will come back as a line item for debate during budget deliberations for the 2025-2029 financial plan.

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