Grants and Contributions

The objective of the agreement between Canada and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General is to support the development of Gladue reports in British Columbia to help reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the criminal justice and correctional systems. Gladue reports provide the judiciary with the details of the unique systemic or background factors that contributed to an Indigenous person coming into contact with the law and outline sentencing recommendations, including the availability of community-based alternatives and healing plans. Gladue reports will support better-informed and Indigenous-led sentencing decisions that will increase the use of reasonable alternatives to incarceration.

The Recipient agrees to: contribute to addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system through activities such as civil/family mediation, prevention, diversion and/or reintegration.

To assist CACP in continuing to respond to criminal legislative policy development with regard to its impact on police and make recommendations on legislative initiatives, attend consultations with Justice, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and other partners in the criminal justice field and in providing advice to the Department on justice-related issues and recommendations on possible amendments to the law, namely through its Law Amendment Committee.

Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges is committed to the achievement of several primary objectives which address the role of the provincial courts as integral players in the delivery of justice to the citizens of Canada. These include: monitoring the status of provincially-appointed judges, acting as an advisory and consultative body to governments and other agencies involved in reforming the system of justice, and being an educator and disseminator of information to judges across the country. Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges supports and advocates for judicial independence, bilingualism, and respect for equality and diversity, concepts necessary to the proper administration of justice in Canada.

The non-profit professional organization maintains professional standards, and promotes the study and enhances the stature of forensic science. It has established two committees: the Alcohol Test Committee which acts as an advisory body to the Department of Justice on matters related to alcohol and the law by evaluating, testing and reporting to the Minister on the scientific acceptability of breath analysis equipment used to determine the blood alcohol content of a person suspected of impaired driving; and the Drugs and Driving Committee which conducts and monitors research in a number of areas including the driving of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs. Advice from this Committee assists in responding to outstanding policy issues related to drugs and driving.

The organization is dedicated to the development and delivery of educational programs for all federal, provincial, and territorial judges. The Institute's programs stimulate continuing professional and personal growth and reflect Canada's cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity, as well as the changing demands on the judiciary in a rapidly-evolving society. The programs focus on three major components of judicial education: substantive law, skills training, and social context issues. The work of the organization aims to improve the administration of justice across Canada and to ensure that the Canadian justice system is fair, relevant and accessible.

This project will provide funding to Legal Aid Ontario, over five years, to prepare Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs) for qualified legal aid clients in the province of Ontario. IRCAs are pre-sentencing reports that assist courts in considering the effect that racism and other unique circumstances experienced by Black persons and potentially other racialized minorities, have contributed to their contact with the criminal justice system.

Over the next five years, Manitoba Justice will undertake several activities to advance victim services by giving victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice system while ensuring the emotional and mental well-being of the criminal justice professionals. Planned activities include: addressing and mitigating the impacts of vicarious trauma experienced by staff working directly with victims of crime, in order to improve trauma-informed care offered, and prevent re-victimization by the Justice system; expanding access to funding for supports for victims and families to attend sentencing hearings; increasing the number of soft waiting spaces across Manitoba for victims/families to attend while participating in the criminal justice process; cultural immersion training for Victim Services Workers; and, translating public materials about intimate partner violence.

Over the next five fiscal years, Saskatchewan will undertake various activities to enhance services available to victims of crime in Saskatchewan, including: providing liaisons in Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon to support families of missing persons; the Victim Services Responders program operating out of Saskatchewan's two Child Advocacy Centers to minimize trauma to child victims and their families; supports for families of missing persons; victims services training; enhancing the Independent Legal Advice Listen Project in partnership with the Public Legal Education Association by making the service available to domestic violence victims in addition to sexual assault victims; and, undertaking various activities to support the implementation of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.

The objective of the Indigenous Courtwork Program is to facilitate and enhance access to justice by assisting Indigenous Persons (adults and youth) charged with an offence under any federal or provincial statute, municipal by-law, or otherwise involved in the criminal justice system to obtain fair, just, equitable and culturally relevant treatment. These services include information on charges, court procedures, rights and responsibilities, bail, diversion, restorative justice and Indigenous community justice alternatives; support in accessing legal resources as well as appropriate community programming including wellness, trauma, housing, family and employment services; and, facilitating communication among court officials, accused persons, family members and communities to ensure understanding and collaboration.