New investment to help with internet access in remote Manitoba First Nations
The Manitoba government is making a $100,000 investment to provide high-speed internet access to remote First Nations and improve the efficiency of the justice system.
Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced that the investment on Tuesday, saying it will be used to bring Starlink technology to these northern communities.
He said the satellite technology will make the justice system more accessible by connecting residents to virtual court appearances, victim services, crisis responders, MMIWG teams, and others supports.
“We are also able to provide the broader community with accessibility and connectivity to education, training and programming that is essential to building long-term approaches to reducing crime and promoting public safety,” Goertzen said in a news release.
The province added that Starlink will help to connect residents and vulnerable youth to remote MKO Youth Healing Lodge Services, and allow First Nations safety officers to contact other police agencies, and efficiently transfer information to other justice system participants.
The new technology will be brought into eight Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) First Nations and a youth centre, including: Misipawistik Cree Nation, Chemawawin Cree Nation, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, Mosakahiken Cree Nation, Bunibonibee Cree Nation, Northlands Denesuline First Nation, Shamattawa First Nation, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, and the MKO Youth Healing Lodge.
“This is a true step in the direction of working together and addressing recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee.
“The exciting thing about this initiative is that the setup time to provide an active link and put it in service isn’t long. We can see the benefits in days, not years.”
The $100,000 is coming from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Donald Trump picks former U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra as ambassador to Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has nominated former diplomat and U.S. congressman Pete Hoekstra to be the American ambassador to Canada.
Genetic evidence backs up COVID-19 origin theory that pandemic started in seafood market
A group of researchers say they have more evidence to suggest the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese seafood market where it spread from infected animals to humans. The evidence is laid out in a recent study published in Cell, a scientific journal, nearly five years after the first known COVID-19 outbreak.
This is how much money you need to make to buy a house in Canada's largest cities
The average salary needed to buy a home keeps inching down in cities across Canada, according to the latest data.
'My two daughters were sleeping': London Ont. family in shock after their home riddled with gunfire
A London father and son they’re shocked and confused after their home was riddled with bullets while young children were sleeping inside.
Smuggler arrested with 300 tarantulas strapped to his body
Police in Peru have arrested a man caught trying to leave the country with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants strapped to his body.
Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Baby dies after being reported missing in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a “suspicious incident” at a Toronto Community Housing building in the city’s midtown area on Wednesday afternoon.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
Parole board reverses decision and will allow families of Paul Bernardo's victims to attend upcoming parole hearing in person
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo will be allowed to attend the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) says.