To the Honourable Members of Parliament:

 

We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to reform the justice system by shifting from a predominantly punitive model to one that prioritizes restorative justice, rehabilitation, and reintegration for adults and juvenile offenders alike.

The current system often emphasizes vengeance and punishment over true rehabilitation.

Individuals are frequently sentenced without sufficient support to address the root causes of criminal behavior, such as mental health challenges, addiction, trauma, or poverty.  

The current system encourages reoffending, as many individuals struggle to reintegrate into society after incarceration and rehabilitation. Excessive delays in accessing record suspension create significant barriers to the true restoration of repentant individuals who genuinely seek to rebuild their lives and positively contribute to their communities.

This increasingly impacts repeated cycles of incarceration and high rates of recidivism. This approach harms not only the individuals involved, but also victims, families, communities, and society at large.

Evidence from jurisdictions around the world demonstrates that restorative justice practices can dramatically reduce recidivism, in some cases to near zero percent, while simultaneously addressing victim trauma more effectively than traditional punitive approaches.

These programs hold offenders accountable to their communities, restore relationships, and provide meaningful opportunities for personal transformation.

 

We urge the Government of Canada to:

• Adopt restorative justice principles nationwide, shifting the focus from retribution to healing, accountability, and restoration of relationships for both adult and juvenile offenders.
• Invest in programs that address root causes of criminal behavior, including mental health support, addiction treatment, trauma-informed care, and social services to reduce poverty and marginalization.
• Support reintegration initiatives that equip individuals with the resources, guidance, and opportunities to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society following incarceration.
• Recognize and incorporate global best practices, leveraging evidence from countries that have successfully implemented restorative justice models to achieve lower recidivism and stronger community outcomes.

 

By embracing restorative justice, Canada has the opportunity to build a more humane, effective, and equitable justice system. Together, we can create a justice system that actually restores lives, strengthens communities, and prioritizes rehabilitation over mere punishment.

As a leader in North America, Canada can set a new standard, creating a justice model that not only serves its citizens but also inspires other nations around the world to follow suit.

 

We, the undersigned, petition the Government of Canada to enact legislation, policies, and funding initiatives that place restorative justice, accountability, and rehabilitation at the center of our justice system.