Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the beginning of our term, the 17th Assembly set a goal of an efficient and effective government.
This was clear direction and we followed it. In June I tabled the Department of Justice 10-Year Strategic Plan and I committed to bring forward a five-year implementation strategy during this session. Later today I will table that document.
While the strategic plan outlines the department’s vision, goals and priorities, the
five-year implementation strategy is the roadmap for how we are going to get there.
This plan identifies the work to be done over the next five years to move the department in the direction of its goals. To reach these goals, priority work has been set. These include supporting initiatives to prevent crime and enhancing the role of our communities and their access to justice services. We will ensure there are services for victims, and we will provide integrated programs and services for offenders. Finally, priorities have been set to broaden options for families and provide a range of services for youth.
Ultimately, this will help us reduce crime, improve access to justice, and build and maintain a strong foundation of financial, human and technology resources to support core programs and services.
This strategy will help our partners and our communities understand what we are doing and how our programs and services will work with theirs. The work we do is not done in isolation.
Our plan is flexible. As circumstances change, we will adjust. We’ll evaluate our programs to make sure they’re working, and we’ll make the changes needed to keep moving towards our vision of safe and vibrant communities.
I have committed to providing updates on our progress. This detailed strategy is the first step. Our business plans will follow this strategy, and we will keep coming back to committee to talk about how we can continue to build on the strengths of Northerners.
We now have the long-term strategic plan, the five-year implementation strategy and, each year, new business plans. I look forward to your input as we move forward working together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
