2 Program Profile

2.1 Description

ARADS was established in November 2020 to address issues of systemic racism and discrimination at Justice Canada and carries out four main activities. It is responsible for providing strategic advice on anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion approaches, human resources policies, initiatives, and strategies within Justice Canada. It is also responsible for coordinating the efforts of Justice Canada’s equity-seeking and diversity advisory committees. The five committees are as follows: Advisory Committee on Racialized Persons, Advisory Committee on Indigenous Peoples, Advisory Committee on Women at Justice Canada, Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities (PWD), and Advisory Committee on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE). In addition, ARADS organizes departmental events to raise awareness on issues related to diversity, inclusion and other interrelated topics, and promotes change in Justice Canada’s culture with regard to systemic racism and discrimination.

ARADS is also responsible for delivering Justice Canada’s Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Results Framework (Results Framework) and Employment Equity (EE) Plan. The 2021-2025 Results Framework is intended to enable fundamental changes to the behaviours, processes, policies, and culture in the Department that perpetuate systemic racism and inhibit the full participation of several groups. These groups include, but are not limited to, Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians, and other racialized groups, as well as PWD, Women and the SOGIE community within Justice Canada.

The Results Framework is aligned with the EE Plan (2022-2025). The EE Plan is meant to be a complementary tool to the Results Framework. The two plans include initiatives, programs and processes to enable departmental leaders to appoint, support, and recruit candidates from Indigenous communities, Black and other racialized communities as well as PWD and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and people who identify as being part of sexual or gender diverse communities (2SLGBTQIA+)/SOGIE communities across Canada. ARADS oversees the implementation of both plans and liaises with other sectors within Justice Canada to lead or support various components of the plans. ARADS prepares biennial progress reports sharing results to date.

The work of ARADS supports Justice Canada’s commitment to answer the Clerk of the Privy Council and the Secretary to the Cabinet’s Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion in the Federal Public Service.

ARADS is located within the Management Sector and its Director reports to the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister. For the duration of the evaluation, ARADS was comprised of two units: one focused on implementing the requirements of the Employment Equity Act within Justice Canada; and the other focused on supporting other initiatives such as data/data analytics, advice and planning.

2.2 Resources

When ARADS was created in 2020-21, there were approximately three full-time equivalents (FTEs). That number increased over time. At the time of the evaluation, there were approximately 14 FTEs in a variety of occupational groups (AS, CR, EC, EX, LC, LP, PE and PM).^{Footnote 1} The overall accountability for ARADS rests with the Director. A majority of ARADS employees were staffed into the unit by way of secondments or assignments.

From 2020-21 to 2024-25, the total combined salary, operations and maintenance (O&M) and employee benefit plan (EBP) allocated resources for ARADS were $7.6M. The specific breakdown per FY is presented in Table 1 below.

Table 1: ARADS’ Allocated Resources During the Evaluation Period^{Footnote 1 of Table 1}

Table 1: ARADS’ Allocated Resources During the Evaluation Period
Categories	FY 2020-21	FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	FY 2023-24	FY 2024-25	Five-Year Total
Salary	$252,556	$941,500	$1,296,744	$1,497,529	$1,555,731	$5,544,060
O&M	$19,041	$100,953	$113,872	$229,924	$102,723	$566,513
EBP^{Footnote 2 of Table 1}	$68,190	$254,205	$350,121	$404,333	$420,047	$1,496,896
Totals	$339,787	$1,296,658	$1,760,737	$2,131,786	$2,078,501	$7,607,469
Table 1 footnotes Footnote 1 of Table 1 Accommodation and Supply and Services Canada costs are excluded from this table as they go directly to their respective departments, and they are not included in the Main Estimates. Return to footnote 1 referrer of Table 1 Footnote 2 of Table 1 Comprehensive EBP rate aligns with external reporting (Public Accounts). Exercises on or after April 1, 2019 were reported at a 27% comprehensive EBP rate (20% prior). Return to footnote 2 referrer of Table 1 Note of Table 1 Source: Department of Justice Canada Financial Data

Date modified:: 2025-10-17

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2 Program Profile

2.1 Description

2.2 Resources

Table 1: ARADS’ Allocated Resources During the Evaluation Period^{Footnote 1 of Table 1}

2 Program Profile

2.1 Description

2.2 Resources

Table 1: ARADS’ Allocated Resources During the Evaluation PeriodFootnote 1 of Table 1

Table 1: ARADS’ Allocated Resources During the Evaluation Period^{Footnote 1 of Table 1}