| SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries |
Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ActThe Declaration is about recognizing and respecting the human rights of Indigenous peoples. Justice Canada will continue its broad, inclusive and distinctions-based engagement process with Indigenous rights holders, representative organizations and groups to support the development of a federal Action Plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration, including measures to ensure that federal laws are consistent with the Declaration. |
This initiative will contribute to advancing:Canadian Indicator Framework
- Ambition 10: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced.
UN Global Indicator Framework
- Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
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Justice Canada, with other federal departments and agencies, held over 200 consultation and cooperation meetings and regional sessions with Indigenous partners to identify Action Plan priorities and measures (as per s.6 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples). This includes potential measures to ensure the consistency of federal laws with the Declaration (as per s.5) and related annual reporting on progress (as per s.7). In March 2023, Justice Canada released a draft Action Plan and "What We Learned to Date” report, which provided a summary of the proposals and priorities provided by Indigenous partners to support the implementation of the UN Declaration Act. The What We Learned to Date report contained 101 measures organized into four chapters and reflected about 80% of the measures put forward by Indigenous partners.The release of these documents launched the beginning of a second phase of consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples towards the finalization of the UN Declaration Act Action Plan.Over 100 bilateral meetings, thematic sessions, and roundtable sessions were held during phase 2. Sixty additional written submissions were received, 80% of the measures contained in the draft Action Plan were modified, four measures were removed, and 84 new measures were added. |
| SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels |
Canadian Legal Problems Survey (CLPS)The CLPS and related qualitative studies examine the prevalence and nature of serious legal problems Canadians experience, what actions they have taken to attempt to resolve the problems, and the impacts these experiences have on their lives. The results of this research will help to advance understanding of Canadians’ legal needs and gaps in accessing justice. |
This survey will inform the Department’s reporting on:Canadian Indicator Framework
- Ambition 16.5, 16.6: Canadians have equal access to justice.
UN Global Indicator Framework
- Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
- Indicator 16.3.3: Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism.
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The 2021 Canadian Legal Problems Survey (CLPS) found that 5.5 million people living in Canada reported experiencing at least one serious problem or civil dispute in the previous three years. The most commonly reported problems were neighbourhood-related, such as vandalism; problems related to harassment; problems related to discrimination; and receiving poor or incorrect medical treatment. Efforts to resolve serious problems generally occurred outside the formal justice system and the majority of serious problems remain unresolved. Negative social, financial and health impacts were experienced as a result of these problems.In 2022, Canada used the data from the 2021 CLPS to report on SDG Indicator 16.3.3 of the Global Indicator Framework.Justice Canada also participated in several panel discussions with internal and external stakeholders to further awareness and mobilize knowledge about the 2021 CLPS results. For example, the CLPS was the subject of Open Doors at Justice, a webinar held in May 2022 at which speakers from Justice Canada, Statistics Canada and a researcher from one of the qualitative studies shared insights and opportunities related to this research. During National Access to Justice Week in October 2022, Justice Canada spoke on a panel about the CLPS as well as the qualitative studies and the importance of people-focused research.Justice Canada commissioned a “Lessons Learned” report on the CLPS 2021 to look at the methodology, questionnaire, and other issues to inform future cycles. In November 2022, Statistics Canada recommended the removal of some content (due to low responses) as well as a review of the questionnaire structure overall. Statistics Canada also noted a number of considerations if the CLPS were to be expanded to include the territories.Justice Canada also initiated a contract to explore the Public Use Microdata File in order to develop JustFacts (fact sheets) using CLPS data. These fact sheets, which will be released by March 2024, include topics on seniors, family justice problems, and resolving serious problems.In 2022, Justice Canada also published several qualitative studies that complemented the 2021 CLPS results. These studies examine the experiences of specific populations in different regions of Canada, including Black people, immigrants, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+, and Indigenous people. |
| Work to Address Overrepresentation in the Criminal Justice SystemAddressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people, Black people and other racialized or marginalized populations in the criminal justice system requires legislative, policy and programmatic responses by a broad range of actors involved in the criminal justice system. Recent federal activities include the introduction of legislation to repeal mandatory minimum penalties for certain offences, promote judicial discretion in sentencing and allow for greater use of conditional sentence orders when appropriate. |
This initiative will contribute to advancing:Canadian Indicator Framework
- Ambition 10: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced.
- Ambition 16.5, 16.6: Canadians have equal access to justice.
UN Global Indicator Framework
- Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
- Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
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On November 17, 2022, former Bill C-5Footnote 1, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which repealed certain mandatory minimum penalties that contribute to higher rates of imprisonment and disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples and Black persons as well as those struggling with substance use and addiction, received royal assent. This Bill restored the ability of a judge to impose appropriate sentences that respond to the facts of the case before them, including the individual’s experience with systemic racism and the risk they pose to public safety.In Winter 2023, Justice Canada established a team to lead the development of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Justice Canada also created a Steering Group comprised of nine leaders and experts from Black communities across Canada, including two authors, to guide the developmental work and draft the final report on Canada’s Black Justice Strategy. |
| Open Justice InitiativeJustice Canada has developed a draft Open Justice commitment as part of Canada’s fifth National Action Plan on Open Government. Access to justice and open justice are key to helping individuals and communities across the country have access to the data, information and services they need to identify and effectively resolve their legal problems. This work supports Canada’s commitment to a people-centered approach to justice, made at the 2021 Summit for Democracy, to better understand and meet the legal needs of the people of Canada. |
This initiative contributes to advancing:Canadian Indicator Framework
- Ambition 16.5, 16.6: Canadians have equal access to justice.
- Ambition 16.7: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.
- Ambition 17.1 (SDG 17Footnote 2): Canada fosters collaboration and partnerships to advance the SDGs.
- Indicator 17.1.1: Number of open datasets published by the Government of Canada.
UN Global Indicator Framework
- Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
- Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
- Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
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Canada’s 2022-2024 National Action Plan on Open Government (NAP) was published on September 22, 2022. It includes a Justice theme that aims to help people and organizations across the country get the information they need to help address their legal problems. This Open Justice Commitment contributes to advancing SDG 16 and SDG 17 through the collection and sharing of data, including disaggregated data, with both internal and external stakeholders, the identification of promising practices, the advancement of legal literacy and empowerment, and fostering partnerships and collaboration.Since the publication of the NAP, Justice Canada has published quarterly updates on its milestones and indicators, reporting completion of three of its commitments and substantial progress on 16 others. In November 2022, Justice Canada also participated in a valuable exchange with members of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), which is composed of eight representatives from civil society and four from the Government of Canada. MSF members offered constructive feedback on the implementation of Justice Canada’s commitment, including strategies to broaden the network of external stakeholders who are aware of and able to use its published data. As a follow-up to the November meeting, Justice Canada invited civil society representatives to present at a meeting of its Open Government Advisory Group in March 2023. |
