Law360 Canada (April 30, 2026, 4:51 PM EDT) -- Saskatchewan is investing more than $1 million in restorative justice programs for schools in a bid to tackle bullying and other types of student “conflict.”

According to a government news release, the province will be giving almost $1.2 million over the next four fiscal years to community-based programs to “help children and youth resolve conflicts, develop leadership abilities, build positive relationships and improve their academic achievements.”

A spokesperson with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Justice and Attorney General confirmed that these school-based restorative justice programs are voluntary and “designed to support students before a criminal charge would be appropriate or required.”

There are times, they said, that a referral to the program may come from police in the form of an “extrajudicial measure.”

“The Youth Criminal Justice Act requires law enforcement to consider other forms of intervention measures before criminal charges are laid,” they said in an email to Law360 Canada.

The programs are available to students of all ages, regardless of cultural makeup or background, and are in place to support the resolution of various conflicts — including bullying, as well as “disagreements” with other students and conflicts with staff, they said.

In terms of how the money will be given out, the province is investing $288,876 annually in the programs.

The province describes restorative justice as an initiative emphasizing the repairing of harm, while also ensuring accountability and promoting community involvement.

Saskatchewan Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod called school-based restorative justice an investment “in safer, stronger communities and brighter futures” for young people.

“When young people are given the right tools to repair harm, rebuild trust and understand the impact of their actions, we not only resolve conflicts, we also prevent them,” said McLeod in a statement. “Supporting our youth helps shape them into the thoughtful and compassionate leaders that our communities will one day depend on.”

One program to benefit from the funding is the Restorative Action Program (RAP) in Saskatoon.

“Supporting RAP means healthier schools where conflict is viewed through a restorative lens rather than a punitive one, prioritizing accountability, healing and the shift from surviving to thriving,” said RAP president Leane Durand.

During the 2024-25 school year, RAP served more than 14,000 students and “facilitated more than 480 successful mediations.” The release notes that many students “self-referred” to the program, “which indicates a willingness to recognize potential harm to themselves and others.”

According to its website, RAP provides “professional support” for youth in navigating conflict, building relationships and reconnecting with their school and community.

“Through our collaborative services, youth are empowered and actively engaged in developing responses to resolve issues they encounter related to bullying, mental health and relationships,” it states.

RAP facilitators offer presentations, workshops, mediation and conflict management, as well as supports, such as referring students to school counsellors, Indigenous advocates and addiction and mental health professionals.

The Saskatchewan government’s announcement of funding for restorative justice in schools comes just days after it stated that it will provide $17.2 million over the next four years to more than 20 First Nations, tribal councils and community organizations that deliver “alternative measures and extrajudicial sanctions programs.”

Alternative measures programs — which are for adults — and extrajudicial sanctions — which are for youth — involve a community approach where offenders are given an opportunity to account for their actions and repair harms through collaboration with their victims and communities.

According to a separate Saskatchewan government web page, alternative measures and extrajudicial sanctions are the most common restorative justice programs in the province.

The practice of restorative justice is commonly associated with Indigenous communities, where it is used to provide a culturally centred alternative to the traditional criminal justice system.

According to Canada’s 2021 Census, Indigenous people accounted for 17 per cent of Saskatchewan’s population.

A spokesperson with Saskatchewan’s government recently confirmed the $17.2 million for alternative measures and extrajudicial sanctions programming is being provided to “a wide range of community-based organizations,” and is not exclusively for Indigenous communities.

Common types of restorative justice include victim-offender mediation, during which the parties meet with a facilitator to address the harms caused by the crime, and the formation of “circles,” in which facilitators bring together a variety of stakeholders, including offenders, victims, family and members of the community.

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