AMC Raises Concerns Over Manitoba Government’s New Electronic Monitoring Program
August 14, 2024
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg — The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) expresses concern regarding the Province of Manitoba’s decision to reintroduce electronic monitoring for individuals in the justice system. While the AMC recognizes the potential benefits of monitoring dangerous offenders and enhancing public safety, there are significant implications for First Nations citizens, particularly given their disproportionate representation within the justice system—a consequence of systemic inequities and historic injustices.
The program, which has received $2.9 million over two years, involves GPS-enabled ankle monitors designed to communicate with individuals through voice, audio, and vibration commands, and issue loud alerts if they enter barred locations. However, it remains unclear how individuals will be selected for this program and how many devices have been obtained.
First Nation peoples are already overrepresented in Manitoba’s justice system. The AMC is concerned that increased surveillance could further exacerbate these inequities, particularly if applied broadly to non-violent offenders. “We know the multitude of reasons why people commit theft: poverty, addiction, and lack of employment opportunities,” said Grand Chief Merrick. “Addressing these underlying issues should be the priority, rather than expanding surveillance measures that risk further criminalizing our people.”
Crime prevention efforts should include comprehensive measures to address socioeconomic inequalities, community-level responses to the addictions crisis, and individual-focused programs to prevent reoffending. The AMC emphasizes the need to examine the risk factors and reasoning behind individuals who continue to re-offend. Investment in evaluation is required to identify which programs work, and effective programs should be resourced adequately. The introduction of electronic monitoring should be carefully evaluated to ensure it targets serious offenders rather than those driven to crime by systemic factors.
“The introduction of this program without prior consultation is disappointing,” Grand Chief Merrick continued. “Our Nations deserve to be partners in decisions that directly affect us, especially when it comes to justice and public safety. The government must engage with us meaningfully to adapt this program to respect our unique circumstances, including life on reserve and our commitment to restorative justice.”
The AMC is also concerned about how this program will align with a First Nations approach to restorative justice, which emphasizes healing, rehabilitation, and community-based solutions over punitive measures. The integration of electronic monitoring within this framework is unclear, and further dialogue is needed to explore how these approaches can work together, if at all. Additionally, connectivity issues on reserve may compromise the reliability of GPS tracking in remote areas.
At this time, the AMC calls for a re-evaluation of this policy, urging the province to consider alternative approaches that address public safety while also respecting the rights and dignity of First Nations individuals. We advocate for measures that focus on restorative justice, community-based supports, and systemic reform to address the root causes of over-representation and to support the genuine rehabilitation of offenders.
The AMC remains committed to engaging in dialogue with the provincial government to seek solutions that align with our values and support the well-being and justice for First Nations peoples. We will continue to monitor the development and implementation of this program closely.
For more information, please contact:
Communications Team
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
Email: media@manitobachiefs.com
About the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
The AMC was formed in 1988 by the Chiefs in Manitoba to advocate on issues that commonly affect First Nations in Manitoba. AMC is an authorized representative of all 63 First Nations in Manitoba with a total of more than 172,000 First Nations citizens in the province, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the provincial population. AMC represents a diversity of Anishinaabe (Ojibway), Nehetho / Ininew (Cree), Anisininew (Ojibwe-Cree), Denesuline (Dene) and Dakota Oyate (Dakota) peoples.