2018–19 Departmental Results Report
Results at a Glance
What funds were used?
$788,807,345 actual spending
Who was involved?
4,386 full-time equivalents (FTEs)
Results Highlights
Key achievements of the Department:
- Implemented the Directive on Civil Litigation Involving Indigenous Peoples. This Directive holds the Government accountable in all litigation involving Indigenous peoples.
- Continued to advance the recognition-of-rights approach reflecting section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- Provided whole-of-government legal advice on priority initiatives related to Indigenous rights issues to advance the Government’s reconciliation agenda.
- Supported the Minister in informing parliamentary and public debates on proposed bills by tabling Charter Statements.
- Supported the passage of Bill C-51, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Department of Justice Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act, which both ensures that victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence are treated with compassion and respect and requires that the Minister of Justice table Charter Statements on the potential effects of all government bills on Canadians’ rights and freedoms under the Charter.
- Increased legal services funding across the country through the Legal Aid Program (under Legal Representation) to support complainants of sexual harassment in the workplace by providing legal information and advice to persons who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, regardless of their economic status.
- Continued to support the Minister through the parliamentary consideration of Bill C-75, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, to address criminal justice system delays, and to strengthen, transform and modernize the criminal justice system, help reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples and vulnerable populations in the criminal justice system, and strengthen the criminal law’s response to intimate-partner violence as well as violence against Indigenous women and girls.
- Co-led, with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Health, efforts leading to the passage and implementation of the Cannabis Act (Bill C-45, An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts).
- Led the development and efforts leading to the passage and implementation of amendments to strengthen the criminal justice system to better protect Canadians from impaired driving (Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts).
- Introduced legislation to modernize Canada’s family justice system to make it more relevant, accessible and efficient (Bill C-78, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act).
- Supported the creation of 39 new Unified Family Court positions in Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Supported the Government’s key public safety priorities, including the passage of Bill C-59, the National Security Act, 2017 and Bill C-71, An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms, by providing legal advice and legislative services.
- Provided advisory and legislative drafting services and policy development for Bill C-81, An Act to ensure a barrier-free Canada, which establishes and imposes accessibility standards on federal government and federally regulated sectors to achieve a barrier-free Canada to support all persons with disabilities in Canada.
- Provided policy and legal support to Health Canada to address the opioids overdose crisis and other emerging drug issues that fall within the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy.
- Provided whole-of-government legal advice for the design and implementation of a carbon-pricing regime and provided high-quality litigation services for its defence before the Courts.
- Provided advisory and legislative services for Bill C-69, An Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, which aims to modernize the National Energy Board and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the way major infrastructures projects are reviewed and approved in Canada.
- Contributed to the implementation of reforms to the Superior Court judicial appointment process. These reforms included measures to strengthen the openness, transparency and independence of the system and to ensure a more diverse judiciary. Two hundred and eighty (280) judges have been appointed under the reformed process announced in 2016.
- Supported Canadian Heritage in restoring a modern Court Challenges Program.
- Represented the Government of Canada in the settlement of several high-profile class action proceedings.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s plans, priorities and results achieved, see the “Results: What we Achieved” section of this report.
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