2018–19 Departmental Results Report
Minister's Message
I am pleased to present the Department of Justice’s 2018-19 Departmental Results Report. As society evolves, so too must our justice system adapt and transform to address new realities and help our most vulnerable. For Justice Canada, this has meant revisiting and modernizing laws, regulations and policies to ensure that they build trust, increase access to the justice system, and reflect what Canadians expect, and deserve, in an inclusive, democratic society.
We are seeing major shifts in Canadian society and beyond that have prompted changes to our laws. Notably, we worked with our partners in Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Health Canada on the Cannabis Act, which also involved updating our impaired driving laws—the most significant reforms to the transportation provisions of the Criminal Code in more than 40 years.
There has been a profound shift in how society addresses violence and sexual abuse, and we are making changes to our laws so they are more effective and easier for victims to access. This has meant a number of changes to the Criminal Code, such as strengthening provisions to better support victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence, and improving protections of children and other vulnerable individuals.
Ensuring access to justice for everyone means making our justice system easier to understand and simpler to navigate. This includes increasing funding for legal aid to support those who struggle with lower income or who are unsure of their full rights, including for immigration and refugee cases. In 2018-19, Parliament passed Bill C-78—the first substantial update in over two decades—to help families going through divorce or dealing with domestic violence, and to put the needs and interests of children at the forefront.
Access to justice also means helping Canadians understand how laws can have an impact on their lives. Effective December 13, 2019, every government bill introduced in Parliament must include a Charter statement. The goal is that both parliamentarians and the public better understand how a bill could impact the Charter-protected rights and freedoms that all Canadians share.
One of the most profound shifts in Canadian society is, of course, the Government’s commitment to reconciliation and building respectful and distinctions-based relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Here again, we are working to provide better access to justice and to change the fundamental relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the justice system, including exploring innovative approaches to Indigenous-led administration of justice. In January, the Department published the Directive on Civil Litigation Involving Indigenous Peoples, to shift to a more collaborative relationship that is founded on respect for Indigenous legal traditions and restorative justice. In addition, to address the national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and two-spirited people, Justice Canada has established Family Information Liaison Units across the country to help family members access information about their loved ones from multiple government sources.
I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of Justice employees in providing high-quality legal services across the Government of Canada. I know that we will continue to deliver on key priorities that promote a fair, modern and accessible justice system for all Canadians.
The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
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