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2007-08

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Table 5: Details on Transfer Payment Programs (TPPs)


1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Aboriginal Justice Strategy (Voted)
2) Start Date: April 2007 3) End Date: March 31, 2012
4) Description:
 Aboriginal people continue to be over-represented in the criminal justice system, both as victims and accused, and under-represented in the judiciary, legal profession and police.  When Aboriginal people come into contact with the justice system as victims or accused, their needs – related to culture, economic positions and social circumstances – must be taken into account to make the system more relevant and effective for them. 

One of the federal government’s key responses to addressing these issues has been the Aboriginal Justice Strategy (AJS), which co-funds, along with provinces and territories, community-based justice programs offering one, all, or a combination of diversion programs, sentencing circles or panels, family and civil mediation and other justice activities in Aboriginal communities.  In response to recommendations related to justice made by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the AJS was established in 1996 and was subsequently renewed in 2001 and again in 2007.  The mandate of the AJS is to:

  • To contribute to decreasing rates of crime and victimization in Aboriginal communities operating AJS programs;
  • To assist Aboriginal communities to take greater responsibility for the local administration of justice;
  • To assist Aboriginal communities to provide better and more timely information about community justice programs funded by the AJS;
  • To reflect and include relevant Aboriginal cultural values in Canadian justice administration.

The AJS is managed by the Department of Justice Canada’s (DOJ) Aboriginal Justice Directorate (AJD).  In collaboration with provincial and territorial counterparts, the AJD pursues the goals of the AJS through program development and support, community-based justice program funding and capacity-building support. The AJS supports programs and activities in all 13 provinces and territories in on-reserve, off-reserve and urban settings.
5) Strategic outcome(s): A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.
6) Results Achieved:
 In 2007-2008, the AJS supported 90 community-based justice programs serving approximately 400 Aboriginal communities across Canada, along with 19 capacity-building initiatives. 

A summative evaluation of the AJS 2002-2007 mandate was conducted in 2006-2007 and finalized in April 2007.  This evaluation helped shape the development and implementation of a renewal plan for the AJS, which was due to expire on March 31 2007.
 
7) Actual Spending
2005- 2006
8) Actual Spending
2006–2007
9) Planned Spending
2007–2008
10) Total Authorities
2007–2008
11) Actual Spending
2007–2008		 12) Variance(s) Between
9) and 11)
13) Program Activity A1.1.1 Aboriginal Justice Strategy
14) Total Grants
55,000
4,000
0
260,000
96,996
-96,996
14) Total Contributions
7,345,000
7,287,586
6,900,000
11,110,000
9,586,445
-2,686,445
14) Total Other Types of TPs
   
15) Total
7,400,000
7,291,586
6,900,000
11,370,000
9,683,441
-2,783,441
16) Comment(s) on Variance(s):
  • Excess funds were transferred to the contribution side of the Program to offset higher funding needs.
  • Supplementary funding of $260k for five years approved at Second Supplementary estimates; only $96k was spent with funding received late in the fiscal year
  • Supplementary funding of $9M for five years approved in two parts at First and Second Supplementary estimates
17) Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation: 
|A summative evaluation of the 2002-2007 AJS mandate was conducted in 2006-07 and finalized in April 2007. The complete 2007 AJS summative evaluation report is available on the Department of Justice web site at: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/eval/rep-rap/07/ajs-sja/p2.html

The evaluation included a series of case studies and a study on the impact of the AJS on recidivism rates that shows that participants in an AJS program are approximately half as likely to re-offend as are individuals who do not participate in such a program.  Other positive impacts noted in the evaluation report are that AJS programs address victims’ concerns, enable victims to participate in justice processes, contribute to stable communities and contribute to a marked reduction in youth alienation.  The evaluation found that the AJS represents a cost-effective and relevant model for dealing with Aboriginal offenders, which reflect Aboriginal values and beliefs and recommended that: 

  • in the event additional funding for the AJS is secured, increasing the number of, and participation in, community-based justice programs should be an overall funding priority;
  • the AJD should work toward formalizing the selection process for new AJS programs, making the application process more accessible, enhancing communication about the program, and should develop tools to improve AJS program reporting; and
  • the AJD should increase the level of coordination of provincial, territorial, and federal efforts in relation to the implementation of community-based justice programs.
The report concluded that AJS objectives continue to be particularly relevant to Aboriginal people, given the severity of the problems Aboriginal people continue to face in the mainstream justice system.   


1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Access to Justice Services Agreements (Voted)
2) Start Date: 1996 3) End Date: March 31, 2009 (ongoing)
4) Description:
 The goal of the Access to Justice Services Agreements (AJAs) is to integrate federal government funding support to Canada’s three territories for access to justice services (that is, both criminal and civil legal aid, Aboriginal Courtwork, and Public Legal Education and Information) through ongoing contribution agreements that allow the territories the flexibility needed to provide these services in an extremely challenging environment (vast distances, harsh climate, cultural/linguistic differences). The overarching goal of federal support for Aboriginal Courtwork services is to facilitate and enhance access to justice by assisting Aboriginal people involved in the criminal justice system to obtain fair, just, equitable and culturally sensitive treatment.  With regard to legal aid services in the territories, the federal goal is to enable the territories to provide legal aid services to economically disadvantaged persons involved in serious criminal matters. And, with respect to public legal education and information, the goal is to assist the territories in providing members of the public with the legal information they need to make informed decisions and participate effectively in the justice system. 
5) Strategic outcome(s): A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.
6) Results Achieved:
 Territories are enabled to provide access to justice services (legal aid, Aboriginal Courtwork and public legal education and information).  New terms and conditions have been approved and contribution funding agreements signed with all three territories for the two-year period, 2007-2008 to 2008-2009. 
 
7) Actual Spending
2005- 2006
8) Actual Spending
2006–2007
9) Planned Spending
2007–2008
10) Total Authorities
2007–2008
11) Actual Spending
2007–2008		 12) Variance(s) Between
9) and 11)
13) Program Activity A1.4.7 Access to Justice Services in the Territories    
14) Total Grants
   
14) Total Contributions
4,856,593
4,856,593
3,356,593
5,156,593
5,156,593
-1,800,000
14) Total Other Types of TPs
   
15) Total Program Activity
4,856,593
4,856,593
3,356,593
5,156,593
5,156,593
-1,800,000
16) Comment(s) on Variance(s):
 Supplementary funding of $1.5M annually over next five years approved at first Supplementary Estimates plus $300K for 2007-2008 reallocated from within the Department to meet the territories’ acute need for additional resources.    
17) Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s).
 The 2008 Aboriginal Courtwork Program Summative Evaluation report indicates that there is a strong and continuing need for the ACW Program; the ACW Program has been successful in achieving its intended outcomes; the cost of the ACW Program expressed on a per client or per Courtworker basis is very low; and opportunities to further expand the impact of the ACW Program are constrained by resource issues.  According to the results of the recent national survey of Aboriginal accused, 90% of clients are satisfied with the information they received from courtworkers.  For further information, the evaluation report can be found at: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/eval/rep-rap/07/acw-papa/index.html.  The Legal Aid Program’s evaluation for the current five-year period is planned to be completed early in fiscal year 2011-12.
18) Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s).
n/a


1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Child-centered Family Justice Fund (Voted)
2) Start Date: August 12, 2003 3) End Date: March 31, 2008
4) Description:
 The Child-centred Family Justice Fund (CCFJF) is a key component of the Child-centred Family Justice Strategy.  While the federal government does not provide direct services to separated and divorced parents since the provinces and territories are responsible for the administration of justice, the Department of Justice is committed to assisting and promoting the development, expansion and maintenance of such services through the CCFJF.
5) Strategic outcome(s): A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.
6) Results Achieved:
 Programs are developed and implemented in response to identified needs and gaps and are integrated with Government priorities and commitments.
 
7) Actual Spending
2005- 2006
8) Actual Spending
2006–2007
9) Planned Spending
2007–2008
10) Total Authorities
2007–2008
11) Actual Spending
2007–2008		 12) Variance(s) Between
9) and 11)
13) Program Activity A1.3 Family Justice    
14) Total Grants
23,430
29,950
50,000
0
0
50,000
14) Total Contributions
16,042,102
16,170,761
11,950,027
16,250,027
16,250,027
-4,300,000
14) Total Other Types of TPs
   
15) Total Program Activity
16,065,532
16,200,711
12,000,027
16,250,027
16,250,027
-4,250,000
16) Comment(s) on Variance(s):
Supplementary funding of $4M approved at first Supplementary Estimates plus internal transfer of funds to the PLEI/Professional Training component to support projects that address the needs of official languages minority communities.
17) Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s). If an evaluation is planned, but has not yet occurred, indicate when it will be completed.
A Summative Evaluation was completed in 2007-2008 and will be posted shortly on the Department of Justice web site.
>18) Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s):

 


1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Court Ordered Counsel in Federal Prosecutions (Voted)
2) Start Date: FY2002-2003 3) End Date: March 31, 2012 (ongoing)
4) Description:
 The Department of Justice provides contribution funding to the provinces, territories and their legal aid delivery entities to provide court ordered funded counsel in instances where individuals do not qualify for legal aid in federal prosecutions.  These federal cases (primarily drug cases) involve serious charges and there is a likelihood of incarceration upon conviction. This program reduces the likelihood of a lengthy stay of proceedings until the prosecuting authority arranges court-ordered counsel for the accused. 
5) Strategic outcome(s): A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.
6) Results Achieved:
 In fiscal year 2007-08, 38 cases were funded through contribution agreements with either provinces or their legal aid delivery entities. 
 
7) Actual Spending
2005- 2006
8) Actual Spending
2006–2007
9) Planned Spending
2007–2008
10) Total Authorities
2007–2008
11) Actual Spending
2007–2008		 12) Variance(s) Between
9) and 11)
13) Program Activity A1.4.3 Court Ordered Council in Federal Prosecutions    
14) Total Grants
   
14) Total Contributions
396,437
1,601,039
2,378,000
5,851,000
5,850,842
($3,472,842)
14) Total Other Types of TPs
   
15) Total Program Activity
396,437
1,601,039
2,378,000
5,851,000
5,850,842
($3,472,842)
16) Comment(s) on Variance(s):
  • Expenditures for this program are a direct response to Court Orders against the Federal Crown for funded counsel in federal prosecutions.  The number of cases, the complexity of the issues and evidence involved are cost drivers.  Accordingly, predicting expenditures from year to year is difficult.   The Program’s planned-for expenditures on Court Ordered Counsel in Federal Prosecutions were covered using funding identified from other areas of the department.
  • Supplementary funding of $1.65M for next five years approved at First Supplementary Estimates PLUS $4.2M obtained internally to meet  additional needs related to two mega cases
17) Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s).
 The Program’s evaluation for the current five-year period is planned to be completed early in fiscal year 2011-12
18) Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s).
Given that, in all cases, the recipients of contributions are provincial and territorial governments (and their legal aid delivery entities) and that the overall level of risk to the Program has been assessed at low/medium, no audits were conducted.


1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Legal Aid (Voted)
2) Start Date: August 17, 1971 3) End Date: March 31, 2012 (ongoing)
4) Description:
 Contribution funding in support of criminal legal aid and immigration and refugee legal aid service delivery by provinces, as well as support for funded counsel in PSAT cases involving economically disadvantaged persons and in federal prosecutions.
5) Strategic outcome(s): A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.
6) Results Achieved:
 Provinces were enabled to provide legal aid services to eligible persons involved in serious criminal, youth criminal justice, and immigration and refugee matters.  As well, PSAT cases and federal prosecutions involving economically disadvantaged persons were not stayed due to lack of funded defence counsel.
 
7) Actual Spending
2005- 2006
8) Actual Spending
2006–2007
9) Planned Spending
2007–2008
10) Total Authorities
2007–2008
11) Actual Spending
2007–2008		 12) Variance(s) Between
9) and 11)
13) Program Activity A1.4.1 access to justice    
14) Total Grants
   
14) Total Contributions
119,775,396
119,827,507
119,827,507
119,827,507
119,827,507
0
14) Total Other Types of TPs
   
15) Total Program Activity
119,775,396
119,827,507
119,827,507
119,827,507
119,827,507
0
16) Comment(s) on Variance(s):
 The Legal Aid Program does not generally lapse criminal legal aid and I&R contribution funds due to its redistribution formula.  The Program’s planned-for expenditures on PSAT and FCOC cases were covered using funds identified from other areas of the department.
17) Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s).
 The Program’s evaluation for the current five-year period is planned to be completed early in fiscal year 2011-12
18) Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s).
Audits of the provinces’ legal aid programs did not result in significant audit findings.  The issues encountered (such as those related to solicitor-client privilege) will help inform the development of possible approaches to future FPT audits (such as joint audits).


1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Victims Fund (Victims of Crime Initiative and Federal Victims Strategy)
2) Start Date:
  • VCI April 1, 2005
  • FVS April 1, 2007
 3) End Date:
  • VCI March 31, 2010
  • FVS March 31, 2011
4) Description:
 The Victims Fund is a grants and contributions fund with broad terms and conditions designed to raise awareness and enhance services and assistance to victims of crime.  The Victims Fund is administered by the Policy Centre for Victim Issues and provides support to victims of crime as well as to governmental and non-governmental organizations to implement a wide range of victim focused projects and activities.    
5) Strategic outcome(s):
A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values
6) Results Achieved:

In 2007/08 the Victims Fund:

  • Provided funding to 410 victims and 75 support persons to attend NPB hearings (totaling $323,974).  Victims have reported that the funding received was very helpful and increased their ability to participate in criminal justice system. 
  • Provided $70,394 to Canadians victimized abroad
  • Provided $733,989 to P/T governments to implement legislation to benefit victims or to advance the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime, including the purchase of testimonial aids, training, salary for service providers, consultations, evaluation and research
  • Provided funding for grants ($254,394) and contribution agreements ($2,590,935) to a wide base of stakeholders including NGOs, government, service providers and victim advocates and stakeholders. The projects and activities funded in 07/08 included such things as training events, evaluation of programs, research, and networking.
  • Provided funding for 24 projects (totaling $92,441) related to National Victims of Crime Awareness Week across Canada
  • Victims Fund recipients report reduced financial hardship, increased willingness to participate in the criminal justice process, and an overall improved experience for victims of crime in the criminal justice process as a result of funding available

In 2007/08 significant enhancements to the Victims Fund were implemented, increasing the Fund from approximately 2M per year to 7.75M per year.  The new resources complimented the broad, general objectives of the existing funds by providing resources for targeted activities and objectives, namely:

  • Financial assistance to Canadians victimized abroad 
  • Expanded support for registered victims to have a support person attend NPB hearing with them
  • Funding for increasing support for victims in northern community justice committees 
  • Increased resources for provincial and territorial government partners to (a) increase services to under-served victims, (b) provide resources for victims to attend sentencing hearings to present a Victim Impact Statement, and (c) respond to the emergency needs of crime victims in the three territories.   

2007/08 was the first year of the enhanced funding and because funds were received late in the fiscal year, full take up was not possible. 

Through 07/08 the PCVI worked closely with provincial and territorial partners to simplify the required application and reporting requirements and developed tools to assist jurisdictions in developing programs and capacity to access the funds.  This assistance and additional measures will continue through 08/09.
 
7) Actual Spending
2005- 2006
8) Actual Spending
2006–2007
9) Planned Spending
2007–2008
10) Total Authorities
2007–2008
11) Actual Spending
2007–2008		 12) Variance(s) Between
9) and 11)
13) Program Activity A1.2.5 Victims of Crime Initiative    
14) Total Grants
0
343,023
1,750,000
850,000
239,788
1,510,212
14) Total Contributions
788,813
1,908,150
6,750,000
7,650,000
2,426,494
4,323,506
14) Total Other Types of TPs
   
15) Total Program Activity
788,813
2,251,173
8,500,000
8,500,000
2,666,282
5,833,718
16) Comment(s) on Variance(s):
 New funding for five years approved at first supplemental estimates (Federal Victims Strategy)
17) Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s).
  • A comprehensive evaluation of the Victims Fund will be completed through the summative evaluation of the Federal Victims Strategy in 2010.  The Formative (Mid-Term) evaluation completed in 2007/08 noted that the Victims Fund grants and contributions were found to be directed to the objectives and anticipated outcomes described in the RMAF, noting that the Victims Fund continues to be considered an effective vehicle to contribute to the improvement of the experience of victims of crime in the criminal justice system. Evaluation findings indicated that the Victims Fund has helped to increase the willingness of victims/witnesses to participate in the criminal justice system by ensuring more support and accommodations and that the financial assistance provided to victims or their family members has reduced the financial hardship of attending early eligibility (homicide) parole hearings and National Parole Board hearings. 
  • The evaluation results from 2005 (Evaluation of the 2000-2004 Victims of Crime Initiative) were very positive.  The evaluation highlighted that a small investment has resulted in significant improvements in victim services, awareness, education, training etc, particularly in the smaller jurisdictions and the North.  The current combinations of policy instruments (PCVI mandate and the Victims Fund) appear to be the most effective methods for federal involvement in the area of victims’ issues.  Provincial/ territorial service delivery has been positively enhanced as a result of the Initiative particularly in managing some of the ongoing increased workload that has resulted from victims’ legislation.  http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/eval/rep-rap/04/vic-vac/tech/tech.pdf
18) Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s).
n/a


1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Youth Justice - Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision Program (IRCS) (Voted)
2) Start Date: April 1, 2002 3) End Date: March 31, 2013 (on going)
4) Description:
 The overall objective of this Program is to financially assist provinces and territories in providing the specialized services required for the implementation of the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS) sentence [paragraph 42(2)(r) and subsection 42(7) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)] and other sentencing options applicable under the YCJA to serious violent youth offenders with mental health problems. It is expected that these services will reduce violence in those convicted of the most serious violent offences. 
5) Strategic outcome(s):
A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values
6) Results Achieved:
 Provinces and territories have the financial capacity to implement sentencing options that involve specialized treatment programs to address the mental health issues of serious violent youth offenders.   
 
7) Actual Spending
2005- 2006
8) Actual Spending
2006–2007
9) Planned Spending
2007–2008
10) Total Authorities
2007–2008
11) Actual Spending
2007–2008		 12) Variance(s) Between
9) and 11)
13) Program Activity A1.2.3 Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision    
14) Total Grants
14) Total Contributions
2,885,475
3,424,450
11,048,000
6,949,487
4,039,250
7,008,750
14) Total Other Types of TPs
   
15) Total Program Activity
2,885,475
3,424,450
11,048,000
6,949,487
4,039,250
7,008,750
16) Comment(s) on Variance(s):
  • Supplementary funding of $11M on-going approved at First Supplementary Estimates minus Reallocation of $10.2M; only $4M was spent.
  • The number of IRCS sentences imposed by the courts remained much lower than initially anticipated, leading to actual spending lower than anticipated.
17) Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s).
 A Summative Evaluation of this Program is scheduled for 2009-10.
18) Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s).
Audits are conducted regularly and usually involve the agreements with two or three jurisdictions per year.


1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Youth Justice Services Funding Program (Voted)
2) Start Date: April 2, 1984 3) End Date: March 31, 2011 (ongoing)    
4) Description:
 The overall objective of this Program is to support the policy directions of the Youth Justice Initiative. The specific objectives of the individual agreements are to support and promote an appropriate range of programs and services that: encourage accountability measures for unlawful behavior that are proportionate and timely; encourage the effective rehabilitation and reintegration of young persons into their communities; target the formal court process to the most serious offences; and target detention and custody to the most serious offences.
5) Strategic outcome(s):
A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.
6) Results Achieved:
 The contribution agreements support a sustainable youth justice system that is capable of innovations and supports federal youth justice priorities.   
 
7) Actual Spending
2005- 2006
8) Actual Spending
2006–2007
9) Planned Spending
2007–2008
10) Total Authorities
2007–2008
11) Actual Spending
2007–2008		 12) Variance(s) Between
9) and 11)
13) Program Activity A1.2.2 Youth Justice Services    
14) Total Grants
14) Total Contributions
185,302,415
177,302,415
177,302,415
177,302,415
177,302,415
0
14) Total Other Types of TPs
   
15) Total Program Activity
185,302,415
177,302,415
177,302,415
177,302,415
177,302,415
0
16) Comment(s) on Variance(s):
 n/a
17) Significant Evaluation Findings and URL(s) to Last Evaluation(s).
 A Summative Evaluation of this Program is scheduled for 2009-10.  
18) Significant Audit Findings and URL(s) to Last Audit(s).
Audits are conducted regularly, and usually involve the agreements with two or three jurisdictions every year.



Date Modified: 2009-02-05
 
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