2017–18 Departmental Results Report - Supplementary Information Tables
Supporting Information on Lower-Level Programs
Sub-program 1.1.1: Legal Policies and Laws
Description
The Department develops and coordinates all federal justice legislative reforms, policy options, and initiatives that promote a fair, accessible and relevant justice system for the benefit of Canadians. This includes the areas of judicial affairs, criminal justice, victims of crime, youth justice, family justice, official languages, contraventions, illicit drugs (via the National Anti-Drug Strategy now the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy), bijuralism, Aboriginal justice, human rights, privacy, access to information, security and terrorism. The Department monitors developments in law, policy and procedure; develops and implements options for law, enforcement and policy reforms through legislation; develops and provides information and services to implement new and existing policies and laws; and provides advice to other federal departments in matters related to justice-related laws and policies. As the administration of justice is an area of shared jurisdiction, the Department works closely with the provinces and territories in support of their responsibility for the day-to-day administration of justice. The Department supports the Minister of Justice throughout the Cabinet and Parliamentary processes with respect to both justice reforms and Parliamentary business involving justice matters such as private members’ bills and Parliamentary reviews. Furthermore, the Department supports the Government's international priorities related to justice namely, the provision of policy advice in the development of Canada’s international justice policies; the negotiation within bilateral or multilateral fora of international norms, treaties, and conventions; the development of legal cooperation programs as well as the provision of legal technical assistance to foreign countries seeking to reform their justice system.
Results
In support of the Government of Canada’s priorities, the Department of Justice provided legal and policy advice that supported the development, process and passage of key legislative initiatives including: Bill C-45 on the legalization and regulation of cannabis; Bill C-46 on impaired driving reform; Bill C-51 on strengthening sexual assault provisions in the Criminal Code, as well as amending the Department of Justice Act to require Charter Statements for all government bills; Bill C-66 concerning expungements of historically unjust convictions; Bill C-74 creating a remediation agreement regime for corporate wrongdoing; and Bill C-75 which seeks to reduce criminal justice system delays. These key legislative initiatives continued to ensure that Canada’s laws reflect the highest standards of equity, fairness and respect for the rule of law.
Furthering the review of the criminal justice system, the Department collaborated with Public Safety Canada to develop the Strategic Action Plan to Reduce the Overrepresentation of Indigenous People in the Criminal Justice System as Victims/Survivors and Accused/Offenders. This Action Plan outlines existing policies, programs and legislative activities to address overrepresentation, as well as outcomes to be achieved, and the method to measure progress. For youth involved in the criminal justice system, the Department supported the development of Youth Criminal Justice Act reforms to provide enhanced procedural and other protections for circumstances involving terrorism-related conduct (Bill C-59), and to reduce prosecutions and incarceration of youth for administration of justice offences (Bill C-75).
As part of the review of the criminal justice system, the Department held provincial and territorial stakeholder roundtables across Canada. The report What We Heard – Transforming Canada’s Criminal Justice System, which highlights the findings of the stakeholder roundtables, is currently available on the Department’s website. Another part of the review included an online public consultation that educated Canadians on the current criminal justice system and sought their opinions on how the system could be transformed. A report on the findings of this public consultation will be published during the 2018-19 fiscal year.
Together with Public Safety Canada, the Department hosted a United Nations meeting of international experts on restorative justice in November 2017 to promote international best-practices.
Justice also led federal-provincial-territorial collaboration on various victims’ issues including continuing the implementation of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights and the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group on Access to Justice for Adult Victims of Sexual Assault. The Department worked with the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics and provincial and territorial victim services to develop a new Canadian Victim Services Indicator Survey.
The Department also undertook extensive work on the Federal Child Support Guidelines to update the child support amounts included in the Federal Child Support Tables (Federal Tables) based on more recent tax parameters. The updated Federal Tables came into force on November 22, 2017. These changes were developed in close consultation and collaboration with provincial and territorial governments. The objective of these changes was to help maintain the predictability, consistency and fairness of the regulations by ensuring that they reflect parents’ current capacity to pay. Federal, provincial and territorial officials worked together to monitor the Federal Tables included under the regulations. This included a review of changes to federal, provincial or territorial tax rules that may have an impact on child support amounts.
Additionally, the Department provided support to Global Affairs Canada for the signature of two family law Conventions on May 23, 2017: the Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children; and the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance.
To advance international human rights, the Department provided legal technical assistance to foreign countries seeking to reform their justice system. More specifically, Justice completed the work on a multi-year program that supported justice reform in Jamaica and started to implement a cooperation project with Mexico on juvenile justice. The Department also participated in the negotiation of a second additional protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (the Budapest Convention) to further international efforts to combat cybercrime. Justice continued to support the work of international anti-corruption review mechanisms by reviewing the implementation by States Parties of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. Finally, Department of Justice officials assisted efforts to promote the implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, and its 2005 Amendment among non-states parties to these instruments.
By attending to these issues, as well as advancing other program initiatives, such as the Departmental Official Languages Action Plan, the Department demonstrated its role as steward of the Canadian Legal Framework and upheld public confidence in the justice system.
| Expected results | Performance indicators | Target | Date to achieve target | 2017-18 Actual results | 2016–17 Actual results | 2015–16 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadians have confidence in Canada’s criminal and family laws. | Percentage of Canadians who rate their level of confidence in adult criminal law as 6.0 or greater on a 10-point scale. | 60 | March 2018 | 61Table note i | 61 | 60 |
| Percentage of Canadians who rate their level of confidence in youth criminal law as 6.0 or greater on a 10-point scale. | 60 | March 2018 | 45Table note i | 45 | 44 | |
| Total amount of federal monies garnished to help satisfy family support orders or agreements. | $165 million | March 2018 | $185 million | $195.6 million | $188.7 million |
- Table note i
-
Figures reflect final results of the 2016-17 National Justice Survey. This is the latest available data.
| 2017–18 Planned spending | 2017–18 Actual spending (authorities used) | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 30,047,989 | 30,955,362 | 907,373 |
| 2017–18 Planned | 2017–18 Actual | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 210 | 200 | -10 |
Sub-program 1.1.2: Justice System Support
Description
The Department, through grants and contributions funding, supports access to the justice system by enabling Canadians to obtain assistance and legal information in order to resolve their legal issues, whether in the formal justice system or through alternative resolution mechanisms. The Department provides ongoing funding to provincial, territorial, and non-governmental organizations, Aboriginal groups, and communities. The Justice System Support Program supports the advancement of federal justice policy in the following core domains: criminal justice (including youth justice and victims of crime), family justice, access to justice, official languages, contraventions, and Aboriginal justice.
Results
As part of the continued improvements in its management and delivery of grants and contributions programs, the Department participated in developing a new grants and contributions management system, to replace the current departmental Grants and Contributions Information Management System. This new system will improve the internal and external user experience, while also making possible greater collaboration and engagement with partners.
Over 98% of contribution funding was provided through transfer payments to specific target groups, including Indigenous groups and communities in several provinces and territories, to support access to justice. This enabled individuals to access legal advice, representation and legal information to resolve their concern, whether through formal or alternative resolution mechanisms.
Through the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, the Department funded a number of projects related to family violence including, intimate partner violence for an aging population, family violence among Indigenous communities, and child witnesses to violence. For example, funding through the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program supported projects related to developing models and programs to empower Indigenous women and girls. These projects were in support of the Action Plan to Address Family Violence and Violent Crimes Against Aboriginal Women and Girls (2015-20).
The Department also continued to provide support for public legal education activities, through both the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program and the Access to Justice Services Agreements in the territories. The Justice Partnership and Innovation Program provides core funding annually to ten Public Legal Education and Information organizations across Canada (one per province). The total funding investment for all ten provinces was $1,030,813 for 2017-18. Legal education and information materials and activities provided by these organizations assist the public in understanding the law, their rights and obligations, the Canadian justice system, and how they might deal with their legal matter. In 2017-18, the Centre for Public Legal Information Alberta underwent a provincial internal program review and was confirmed as a provincially-designated representative organization for public legal education for the remaining four years of a five-year agreement.
| Expected results | Performance indicators | Target | Date to achieve target | 2017-18 Actual results | 2016–17 Actual results | 2015–16 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A justice system that is accessible to Canadians. | Percentage of federal justice system support funding provided to provinces and territories, non-governmental organizations, and Aboriginal groups and communities to inform and assist Canadians with their legal matters. | 100 | March 2018 | 98.2 | 98 | 98 |
| Percentage of provinces with designated public legal education and information organizations supported by the Department that provide legal information. | 100 | March 2018 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2017–18 Planned spending | 2017–18 Actual spending (authorities used) | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 355,070,152 | 392,866,162 | 37,796,010 |
| 2017–18 Planned | 2017–18 Actual | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 43 | -1 |
Sub-sub-program 1.1.2.1: Criminal Justice and Legal Representation
Description
The Department supports access to justice and the efficient functioning of the Canadian justice system. The Department provides contribution funding to provinces to help ensure that economically disadvantaged individuals have access to legal advice, representation and information for criminal law, youth criminal justice, and immigration and refugee matters. Provinces, territories, or their legal aid service delivery entities also receive funding for the management and delivery of State-Funded Counsel (court-ordered counsel in federal prosecutions, and for legal assistance in national security matters). In addition, grants and contributions funding is also made available to a wide range of other recipients to support: (1) alternatives to incarceration for non-violent drug addicted offenders; (2) Special Advocates in Division 9 proceedings under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; (3) the prosecution of capital market fraud cases; (4) the development of public legal education resources; and (5) projects that assist in developing effective responses to trends and issues affecting Canadian justice policy. This sub-sub program uses funding from the following grants and contributions programs: Legal Aid Program (includes, Criminal Legal Aid, Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid and State-Funded Counsel), Drug Treatment Court Funding Program, Integrated Market Enforcement Teams Reserve Fund, Special Advocates Program, International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (Unidroit), Hague Conference on Private International Law, and Justice Partnership and Innovation Program.
Results
The Department continued to collaborate with its partners on delivery of the Legal Aid Program, providing criminal legal aid to adults and youth, immigration and refugee legal aid, and state-funded counsel in federal prosecutions. The Program secured five-year contribution agreements (2017-22) for criminal legal aid and immigration and refugee legal aid to support provinces and their respective legal aid plans. This funding supported the delivery of legal aid services to address the needs of economically disadvantaged persons, including vulnerable populations such as Indigenous persons and those suffering from mental health issues, and to undertake legal aid modernization efforts that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system as a whole. For example, Nova Scotia has improved its online application process to increase access to legal aid services; Saskatchewan has created a Gladue historical database to assist in the preparation of Gladue reports, and Ontario has provided mental health training and supports to lawyers providing criminal law services to clients with mental health issues and addictions.
In addition, State-Funded Counsel Agreements with the provincial and territorial legal aid plans (or with Court Services, in Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan) were expanded in 2017-18 to include cases funded under the former Public Security and Anti-terrorism Legal Aid Fund. This inclusion lowered administrative burdens on the legal aid plans.
In 2017-18, the Drug Treatment Court Funding Program continued to provide funding to participating provinces and territories for the unique costs associated with court monitored treatment programs. Evaluations have confirmed that directing offenders to appropriate community treatment and support is an effective off-ramp from the criminal justice system and reduces recidivism. Successful court-monitored treatment programs operate through strong, collaborative and cooperative partnerships between the court, health and community support systems.
The Department also continued to administer the Integrated Market Enforcement Team Reserve Fund, which supports the prosecution of cases regarding serious criminal capital market fraud offences in Canada.
| Expected results | Performance indicators | Target | Date to achieve target | 2017-18 Actual results | 2016–17 Actual results | 2015–16 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced capacity of provinces and their legal aid plans to deliver criminal legal aid services to eligible economically disadvantaged persons. | Number of approved applications for criminal legal aid in provinces. | 270,000 | March 2018 | N/ATable note iv | 274,265Table note iii | 261,207 |
| Number of times duty counsel services are provided in criminal matters to individuals requiring legal assistance in provinces.Table note ii | 1,300,000 | March 2018 | N/ATable note iv | 913,666Table note iii | N/ATable note ii | |
| Eligible persons are represented in court so cases proceed. | Number of stays (cases temporarily suspended or stopped altogether) due to the lack of funded counsel for court-ordered counsel in federal prosecutions and in public security and anti‑terrorism cases. | 0 | March 2018 | N/ATable note iv | 0 | 0 |
- Table note ii
-
As this is a new indicator, figures are not available for 2015-16.
- Table note iii
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Figures reported for criminal legal aid applications approved reflect full-service certificates only, and do not account for the provision of other legal aid services, such as duty counsel. Figures reported for duty counsel services provided do not include data for Québec or Alberta. Figures provided for both criminal legal aid applications approved and duty counsel services provided reflect provincial totals only. Preliminary results were published in the 2016-17 Departmental Results Report.
- Table note iv
-
2017-18 data will be available in late 2018.
| 2017–18 Planned spending | 2017–18 Actual spending (authorities used) | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 134,596,351 | 152,477,756 | 17,881,405Table note v |
- Table note v
-
The variance between Actual spending and Planned spending is primarily explained by the sunsetting of funding that was not included in the planned spending. This funding, as announced in Budget 2017, was renewed starting in 2017-18 and was accessed through the 2017-18 Supplementary Estimates process.
| 2017–18 Planned | 2017–18 Actual | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 10 | -2 |
Sub-sub-program 1.1.2.2: Victims of Crime
Description
The Department, through grants and contributions funding, aims to give victims of crime a more effective voice in the criminal justice system. As part of the Federal Victims Strategy, the Department provides funding to provincial and territorial governments and non-governmental organizations to increase awareness and knowledge of victim issues, legislation, and services available, as well as to develop and deliver victim programs, services, and assistance to meet gaps in services for victims of crime. The Department also provides direct, limited, emergency financial assistance to individual victims in certain specified circumstances, including travel for registered victims to attend Parole Board of Canada hearings and for Canadians victimized abroad. This sub-sub program uses funding from the following grants and contributions program: the Victims Fund.
Results
The Department hosted a Federal Symposium in the context of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, which featured a plenary session on the impact of colonization on Indigenous victims of crime. Nationally, the Victims Fund supported over 195 community organization to host events during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week. Over the course of the 2017-18 fiscal year, the Victims Fund supported: 476 projects; 407 Canadians to attend Parole Board of Canada hearings; 182 Canadians victimized abroad; and 32 non-governmental organizations and 9 provinces and territories in enhancing criminal justice responses to victims and survivors of crime.
Through leadership of the Federal Victims Strategy, the Department continued to improve access to justice for victims of crime. In 2017-18, Justice worked with provincial and territorial partners to support the establishment of Family Information Liaison Units (FILUs) in every province and territory and to provide a network for FILU programs across the country. These units help families access available information about their missing and murdered loved ones from multiple government sources.
To further the Federal Victims Strategy, the Department launched a call for proposals in 2017-18 to support a five-year strategy under the Child Advocacy Centres (CAC) Initiative. This call for proposals was divided into six different streams:
- Development of new CACs (Needs Assessments and Feasibility Studies);
- CAC Development and Piloting of Services;
- Service Delivery – CAC Operations;
- Expansion of CAC Services to a Broader Client Base;
- Building and Strengthening Networks; and
- Capacity Building and Training.
The Department received 38 proposals requesting over $16 million in total funding over five years. Of these 38 projects, 30 projects were funded totalling $9.2 million over five years. The projects selected and recommended were those that best followed the Child Advocacy Centres model and would best achieve the Department's objectives and governmental priorities. For example, funding has been granted to Key Assets Newfoundland and Labrador to conduct a feasibility study to identify the scope and next steps in the establishment of the first Child Advocacy Centre in Newfoundland and Labrador.
| Expected results | Performance indicators | Target | Date to achieve target | 2017-18 Actual results | 2016–17 Actual results | 2015–16 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victims of crime have a more effective voice in the criminal justice system. | Percentage of federal victims funding accessed by provinces/territories, non‑governmental organizations, and individuals to advance victim assistance and participation in the criminal justice system. | 100 | March 2018 | 95 | 76 | 93 |
| Percentage of victims surveyed who received financial assistance who report having a more effective voice in the criminal justice system. | 90 | March 2018 | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| 2017–18 Planned spending | 2017–18 Actual spending (authorities used) | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 28,157,649 | 26,891,637 | -1,266,012Table note vi |
- Table note vi
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The variance between Actual spending and Planned spending is primarily explained by the inability of some funding recipients to fully expend forecasted project costs resulting in lapsing of funds at fiscal year-end. Measures have been implemented to more closely monitor funding recipients in future fiscal years.
| 2017–18 Planned | 2017–18 Actual | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 1 |
Sub-sub-program 1.1.2.3: Youth Justice
Description
The Department promotes the protection of the public by supporting programs and services which are consistent with the objectives of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Department provides contribution funding to the provinces and territories for programs and services aimed at youth in conflict with the law which encourages their accountability, rehabilitation, and reintegration into the community; promotes diversion from the formal court process where appropriate; and reserves custody for the most serious offenders. Funding is also provided to the provinces and territories for specialized therapeutic programs and services for youth with mental health needs who are convicted of a serious violent offence. Finally, funding is available to a wide range of recipients for projects which encourage a more effective youth justice system, respond to youth justice issues, and enable greater citizen and community participation in the youth justice system. Such projects include programs specifically aimed at youth in conflict with the law, training for justice professionals and youth service providers, and research. Funding is provided through the following grants and contributions programs: the Youth Justice Services Funding Program, the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision Program, and the Youth Justice Fund.
Results
Through the Youth Justice Fund the Department continued to advance projects that encourage a more effective youth justice system, which responds to emerging youth justice issues and allows for greater citizen and community participation in the youth justice system. The Fund supported projects that advance ministerial mandate letter priorities such as reducing the rate of incarceration among Indigenous youth and addressing gaps in services to Indigenous young people. These included 15 projects supporting the development and delivery of culturally relevant rehabilitative approaches for Indigenous young people involved with the justice system.
The Youth Justice Services Funding Program continued to support provincial and territorial programs and services that encourage timely and proportionate accountability measures for unlawful behaviour, as well as effective rehabilitation and reintegration of young persons. Similarly, the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision program supported the specialized services required to implement Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision orders and other sentences made pursuant to the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Funding was also made available through the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision program to the provinces and territories to support 33 projects addressing issues related to youth violence and mental health, including specialized staff training activities.
In the summer of 2017-18, the Department started negotiations with provinces and territories for new five-year funding agreements for the Youth Justice Services Funding Program and the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision program. As a result of these negotiations, new five-year funding agreements with all provinces and territories will be implemented in 2018-19.
| Expected results | Performance indicators | Target | Date to achieve target | 2017-18 Actual results | 2016–17 Actual results | 2015–16 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A youth justice system that supports federal youth justice priorities. | Percentage of youth court cases receiving a non‑custodial (community‑based) sentence. | 85 | March 2019 | Result available in March 2019Table note vii | Data available March 2019Table note vii | 84 |
| Percentage of identified, eligible Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision cases receiving specialized treatment. | 100 | March 2018 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
- Table note vii
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Data is published by Statistics Canada two years after a given fiscal year.
| 2017–18 Planned spending | 2017–18 Actual spending (authorities used) | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 157,967,435 | 157,695,382 | -272,053 |
| 2017–18 Planned | 2017–18 Actual | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 |
Sub-sub-program 1.1.2.4: Family Justice
Description
The Department, through grants and contributions funding, provides support to Canadians experiencing separation and divorce by facilitating effective delivery of programs and services, such as parent education, mediation, support enforcement and child support recalculation, and developing family law information and training resources. Family justice funding assists the provinces and territories to develop and provide family justice services and programs that are aimed at enhancing the capacity of parents to reach appropriate custody, access, and support agreements and comply with those agreements. Federal funding also assists non-government organizations in developing family law information and training resources, supports implementation of the Department’s legislative obligations and policy priorities in the area of family justice, and provides support to program evaluation by collecting and reporting on the funding data. This sub-sub program uses funding from the following grants and contributions program: Supporting Families Fund.
Results
The Department continued to fulfil its responsibility by contributing financial assistance to provinces and territories for the provision of family justice services that support the needs of families experiencing separation and divorce. The Canadian Family Justice Fund (formerly the Supporting Families Fund) was launched in 2017-18. The Government’s commitment to facilitating access to the family justice system continued to be affirmed by entering into long-term funding agreements with provinces and territories. Fourteen five-year agreements were successfully negotiated with the provinces and territories totalling $15 million for family justice activities. These activities related to five priorities:
- fostering federal, provincial and territorial collaboration;
- supporting the well-being of family members engaging with the family justice system;
- extending the reach of family justice programs, services and information to meet the needs of diverse and underserved populations;
- supporting alternatives to court for the resolution of family matters; and
- improving and streamlining the family justice system to support the simplification of family court processes, including information sharing between courts and family justice services and improved coordination with other parts of the justice system.
A streamlined administrative process for all applicants, and the offer to provinces and territories to enter into long-term agreements, introduced under the new Canadian Family Justice Fund, meant a less onerous proposal and reporting process which aided in the successful allocation of the majority of funds under both fund components.
The Department undertook a series of bilateral discussions on the Canadian Family Justice Fund with provincial and territorial representatives throughout the year. These bilateral discussions were an essential and necessary step to make possible the successful process that ultimately resulted in the conclusion of agreements with all but one jurisdiction.
Not-for-profit organizations and other stakeholders were invited to apply to the Projects component of the fund through a call for proposals and were engaged through the Department of Justice website and through teleconference calls. They were also invited to provide comments about the fund as part of their annual reporting questionnaire.
As a result, the Canadian Family Justice Fund supported an additional 23 projects (13 from organizations and 10 from provinces and territories) that were approved for funding in the amount of $957,000. This included public legal education and information for Canadian families experiencing separation and divorce. The Fund also facilitated access to innovative services and programs, such as an Online Judicial Resolution Project in Nova Scotia, which saw the development of an on-line platform for dispute resolution of family law matters, particularly divorce cases. The main objective of the project is to improve and streamline the family justice system and to provide an alternative to court.
| Expected results | Performance indicators | Target | Date to achieve target | 2017-18 Actual results | 2016–17 Actual results | 2015–16 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A family justice system that supports access to family justice information, services, and programs for Canadians experiencing separation and divorce. | Percentage of federal funds accessed by provinces and territories and non-governmental organizations. | 100 | March 2018 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2017–18 Planned spending | 2017–18 Actual spending (authorities used) | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 16,161,788 | 16,161,788Table note viii |
- Table note viii
-
The variance between Actual spending and Planned spending is primarily explained by the sunsetting of funding that was not included in the planned spending. This funding, as announced in Budget 2017, was renewed starting in 2017-18 and was accessed through the 2017-18 Supplementary Estimates process.
| 2017–18 Planned | 2017–18 Actual | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 | 2 |
Sub-sub-program 1.1.2.5: Aboriginal and Northern Justice
Description
The Department contributes funding to the provinces and territories for programs and services which provide culturally appropriate assistance to Indigenous people navigating the criminal justice system. The Department also provides funding to a range of recipients who deliver programs that provide culturally relevant alternatives to the mainstream justice system for Indigenous people. Finally, the Department provides contribution funding to the territories to help ensure that Northern residents have access to legal representation and advice as well as information on the justice system. Funding is provided through the following grants and contributions programs: the Indigenous Justice Program (previously the Aboriginal Justice Strategy), the Indigenous Courtwork Program (previously the Aboriginal Courtwork Program), and Access to Justice Services Agreements in the territories.
Results
The Indigenous Justice Program continued to support Indigenous community-based justice programs that offer alternatives to mainstream justice processes in appropriate circumstances. These programs are community-led and designed to reflect the cultures, values and specific justice needs of the communities in which they are situated. In 2017-18, the Indigenous Justice Program negotiated long-term funding agreements of up to five years (based on risk) with funded community-based programs. Prior to receiving its permanent mandate in 2017, the Program had only been able to enter into agreements of much shorter duration, at times no longer than a year. These longer term agreements provide funded programs and their community partners much needed stability.
The Department also worked closely with provincial and territorial partners to offer new five-year contribution agreements (2018 to 2023) to participating provinces to provide funding for Indigenous courtwork services through the Indigenous Courtwork Program. A national evaluation was completed in 2017-18. It concluded that the Indigenous Courtwork Program is well aligned with the priorities of the federal government and the Department of Justice and that there is a strong continuing need for the Program. The evaluation confirmed that Courtworker services are responsive to the needs of Indigenous peoples and that services have contributed to a fair, just and culturally relevant treatment of Indigenous people before the courts. The evaluation also found that the Tripartite Working Group on the Indigenous Courtwork Program plays an important leadership role through information sharing and the conduct of important initiatives. Areas for improvement identified through the evaluation will be collaboratively addressed over the next two years.
Over the 2017-18 period, more than 95% of Indigenous people in contact with the criminal justice system receiving services from a Courtworker reported satisfaction with the information received. Ninety percent of justice and court officials reported that the Courtworkers improved communication between Indigenous persons in contact with the criminal justice system and those involved in the administration of the criminal justice system. These results demonstrate the Government’s continued commitment to ensure that Northern residents have access to legal representation and advice as well as information on the justice system.
| Expected results | Performance indicators | Target | Date to achieve target | 2017-18 Actual results | 2016–17 Actual results | 2015–16 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A justice system that responds to the needs of Indigenous people by providing culturally relevant information and services. | Percentage of individuals referred to an Indigenous Justice Program who have completed the program. | 90 | March 2018 | 85 | 85 | N/ATable note ix |
| Percentage of Indigenous Courtwork Program clients indicating a level of satisfaction of “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the information provided. | 80 | March 2018 | 95 | N/ATable note ix | N/ATable note ix | |
| Territorial residents have access to justice services (legal aid, public legal education and information, Indigenous Courtwork Program) that respond to their needs and circumstances. | Number of approved applications for legal aid in the territories. | 3,000 | March 2018 | N/ATable note x | 3,861 | 2,874 |
- Table note ix
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Information was not available for 2015-16 or 2016-17 as the indicator is reported every five years.
- Table note x
-
Information will be available for 2017-18 at the end of December 2018.
| 2017–18 Planned spending | 2017–18 Actual spending (authorities used) | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 18,491,083 | 28,496,326 | 10,005,243Table note xi |
- Table note xi
-
The variance between Actual spending and Planned spending is primarily explained by the sunsetting of funding that was not included in the planned spending. This funding, as announced in Budget 2017, was renewed starting in 2017-18 and was accessed through the 2017-18 Supplementary Estimates process.
| 2017–18 Planned | 2017–18 Actual | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 13 | -1 |
Sub-sub-program 1.1.2.6: Justice in Official Languages
Description
The Department, through grants and contributions funding, provides support to improve access to justice in both official languages to persons navigating the justice system. The Department manages the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund and takes positive measures to fulfill the federal government’s commitment contained in section 41 of the Official Languages Act towards the development of official language minority communities and the promotion of English and French. The Department also manages the Contraventions Act Fund that provides funding to provinces, territories, and municipalities where the Contraventions Act is implemented so that they can provide justice services on behalf of the federal government in a manner consistent with the applicable language rights involving compliance with judicial services as set out in sections 530 and 530.1 of the Criminal Code and extra-judicial services as set out in Part IV of the Official Languages Act. This sub-sub program uses funding from the following grants and contributions programs: Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund and Contraventions Act Fund.
Results
As part of the federal government’s commitment contained in section 41 of the Official Languages Act towards the development of official language minority communities and the promotion of English and French, the Department continued to manage the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund. Funding was provided to 44 projects, increasing the capacity of the justice system and its stakeholders to offer justice services in both official languages and increasing the availability of legal information to Official Language Minority Communities. The Fund supported: 16 projects providing training to justice professionals; 19 projects to raise awareness and support public legal information activities; three projects contributing to curriculum development; and six projects for developing linguistic training tools.
An Evaluation of the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Initiative was completed in 2017-18, and it confirmed that the initiative is aligned with the priorities of Justice and the federal government.
In addition, Justice legal services contributed to the development of the first five-year integrated Departmental Official Languages Action Plan, which was adopted in September 2017.
The Department also continued to implement the Contraventions Act regime. Through the Contraventions Act Fund Justice provided funding to provinces and municipalities, where the Contraventions regime is implemented, to undertake measures ensuring that offender’s language rights are respected in relation to the administration and enforcement of federal contraventions.
In Spring 2017, a Contraventions Act Administration and Enforcement Agreement was signed with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This agreement allowed for federal offences designated as contraventions to be enforced through the existing ticketing scheme of Newfoundland and Labrador as of January 1, 2018.
In 2017, an Evaluation of the Contraventions Act Program was completed, and it confirmed alignment with federal government priorities and the strategic goals of the Department. The Department of Justice will continue to take concrete steps to ensure implementation of the recommendations of this evaluation.
| Expected results | Performance indicators | Target | Date to achieve target | 2017-18 Actual results | 2016–17 Actual results | 2015–16 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadians have access to a criminal justice system that responds to their needs in the official language of their choice. | Percentage of provinces and territories where justice system stakeholders (prosecutors, court clerks, judges, etc.) have access to specialized language training to facilitate access to justice in the official language of choice. | 100 | March 2018 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Canadians have access to legal information regarding their rights and responsibilities in the official language of their choice. | Percentage of provinces and territories for which official language minority communities have access to legal information through an information hub that provides Canadians with legal information through a telephone helpline, online, or in person. | 100 | March 2018 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Canadians in designated areas who have received a federal contravention have access to the justice system using the official language of their choice. | Number of complaints with respect to judicial and extra-judicial services in the official language of choice. | 0 | March 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017–18 Planned spending | 2017–18 Actual spending (authorities used) | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 15,857,634 | 11,143,273 | -4,714,361Table note xii |
- Table note xii
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The variance between Actual spending and Planned spending is primarily explained by the fact that the funds allocated reflect the needs among participating jurisdictions only under the Implementation of Official Languages Requirements under the Contravention Act. Not all provinces are currently participating.
| 2017–18 Planned | 2017–18 Actual | 2017–18 Difference (actual minus planned) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 9 | -1 |
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