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Legal Aid Systems

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Legal Aid Systems (voted)

Start Date: August 17, 1971

End Date: March 31, 2012 and ongoing

Description: The objective of the federal Legal Aid Program is to contribute to sustaining a national system of justice, that helps to ensure that economically disadvantaged persons have access to the justice system, through contribution funding in support of criminal, youth criminal justice and immigration and refugee legal aid services provided by the provinces (funding for criminal and civil legal aid in the territories is provided through the Access to Justice Agreements).

Recipients: Provinces

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.

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.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	$119,827,507	$125,827,507	$119,827,507	$124,572,507	$124,572,507	-$4,745,000
Total Program Activity(ies)	$119,827,507	$125,827,507	$119,827,507	$124,572,507	$124,572,507	-$4,745,000

Comment(s) on Variance(s): Additional resources were provided to address the increased costs faced by the six provinces providing immigration and refugee legal aid (Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia).

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: The Legal Aid Program Impact Evaluation activities are being conducted over a five-year period. In 2009-2010, the Legal Aid Program Impact Design Study was completed (December 2009). The Legal Aid Program Impact Evaluation is planned to be completed in the 2011-12 fiscal year.

Youth Justice Services Funding Program

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Youth Justice Services Funding Program (voted)

Start Date: April 1, 1984

End Date: March 31, 2011 and ongoing

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 behaviour 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.

Recipients: Provinces and territories

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.

Results Achieved: Despite the capping of federal funding under this Program since 2006-07, the Provinces and Territories appear to have been able to maintain most of the high priority services developed under the previous agreements.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	$177,302,415	$177,302,415	$177,302,415	$177,302,415	$177,302,415	$0
Total Program Activity(ies)	$177,302,415	$177,302,415	$177,302,415	$177,302,415	$177,302,415	$0

Comment(s) on Variance(s): N/A

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: A summative evaluation of the funding components of the Youth Justice Initiative undertaken during 2009-10 was completed in 2010-11.

Victims of Crime

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Victims of Crime Initiative (voted) and Federal Victims Strategy (voted)

Start Date: April 1, 2000

End Date: March 31, 2011

Description: The Policy Centre for Victim Issues (PCVI) administers the federal Victims Fund, which has a broad set of objectives that are intended to improve the experience of victims in the criminal justice system. The Fund can be accessed by victim service providers, non-governmental organizations, provincial and territorial governments, victim advocates and researchers, as well as victims (Canadians who are victimized abroad, as well as victims registered with Correctional Services Canada and their support persons to attend National Parole Board hearings).

Recipients:

1. Individuals
2. National, provincial, territorial, municipal, Aboriginal, community or professional organizations, societies or associations
3. Canadian educational institutions/Boards of Education
4. International governmental and non-government organizations (including bodies associated or affiliated with organizations of which Canada is a member, which have as their purpose victim advocacy, services, assistance or raising awareness about the impact of victimization
5. Private sector organizations sponsoring non-profit projects)
6. Bands, Tribal Councils and self-governing First Nations who are working to provide services and assistance to victims of crime in Aboriginal communities
7. Provincial, territorial, municipal and regional governments and agencies

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values

Results Achieved:

In 2010-2011, the Victims Fund provided:

• $350,255 in funding for 347 victims and 109 support persons to attend Parole Board Canada hearings;
• $374,321 in direct funding for 87 Canadians victimized abroad;
• $3,262,044 in grants and contributions funding to a wide range of stakeholders for 80 victim focussed projects including service enhancements, training events, program evaluations, research and community activities;
• $1,394,655 in contribution funding to provinces and territories to help meet the needs of under-served victims of crime, to help support victims in attending sentencing hearings in order to submit their Victim Impact Statement, to provide emergency financial support for territorial victims, and to advance the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime;
• $711,352 in funding to support 91 organizations/communities across Canada to organize and host events in recognition of victims of crime during the fifth annual “National Victims of Crime Awareness Week”;
• $260,567 to support Child Advocacy Centres;
• $439,292 in funding to support the development or enhancement of culturally sensitive victim services for Aboriginal victims of crime specifically related to missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Grants	$398,752	$842,605	$850,000	$850,000	$847,249	$2,751
Total Contributions	$3,100,934	$4,067,867	$6,900,000	$9,981,500	$6,179,736	$720,264
Total Program Activity(ies)	$3,499,686	$4,910,472	$7,750,000	$10,831,500	$7,026,985	$723,015

Comment(s) on Variance(s): Management practices implemented in 2010-2011 have resulted in greater awareness of the fund and the development of project proposals that are supported (resulting in a decrease in the variance from previous years). Working directly with victims of crime to support them in accessing financial assistance, as well as working with NGOs, Aboriginal organizations and/or provincial and territorial (PT) partners to develop strong and viable proposals which satisfy government requirements for due diligence, are resource intensive processes to which we are committed. Justice Canada is making changes to improve our ability to deliver this funding.

While in 2010-2011 the Financial Assistance component of the fund saw an increase in the resources committed to victims and their support persons as well as in resources committed to Canadians victimized abroad, those commitments are difficult to forecast as the Victims Fund responds directly to requests for assistance from victims of crime.

Further improvements to the criteria, processes and administration of the Fund will be developed to ensure that federal funding continues to meet the needs of victims of crime and this variance continues to decrease.

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: The summative evaluation of the Federal Victim Strategy (FVS) was completed in the Fall 2010. The evaluation found that the FVS is highly relevant to the Government of Canada’s priorities, is improving the experience of victims in the criminal justice system, and that there is a strong continuing need for the FVS. The evaluation also concluded that funding lapses are impeding the full potential of the Victims Fund. In future years, improvements to the criteria, processes and administration of the Fund will be developed to ensure that federal funding meets the needs of victims of crime. For example, PT partners and NGOs will be encouraged to seek funding for longer-terms to augment victim services across the country and develop new services where required, more flexibility in project spending will be advanced when appropriate, and multi-purpose funding will be supported. In addition, methods for decreasing the administrative burden on recipient organizations will be identified as will opportunities to increase awareness of the Fund.

Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision Program (voted)

Start Date: April 1, 2002

End Date: March 31, 2013 and ongoing

Description: The overall objective of this Program is to financially assist provinces and territories in providing the specialized therapeutic 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 may reduce future violence in those convicted of the most serious violent offences.

Recipients: Provinces and territories

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.

Results Achieved: During 2010-11, a total of 12 Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS) orders were issued by the courts and became eligible for federal funding, bringing the total number of active IRCS cases funded to 44. In addition, another 13 exceptional cases were approved for funding during 2010-11, bringing the total number of other active cases to 15.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	$9,028,126	$10,561,587	$11,048,000	$11,048,000	$10,929,773	$118,227
Total Program Activity(ies)	$9,028,126	$10,561,587	$11,048,000	$11,048,000	$10,929,773	$118,227

Comment(s) on Variance(s): Spending under this Program is largely dependent on court decisions and as such remains highly unpredictable.

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: A summative evaluation of the funding components of the Youth Justice Initiative undertaken during 2009-10 was completed in 2010-11.

Contraventions Act Fund

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Implementation of Official Languages Requirements in respect of the Contraventions Act (voted)

Start Date: April 1, 2002

End Date: March 31, 2013 and ongoing

Description: The Contraventions Act allows the federal government to designate federal statutory offences as contraventions so that they can be processed using a contraventions scheme, thus reducing the burden on the court system, reducing the costs for the accused and the government, and limiting the impact of a conviction based on a federal offence. The Act authorizes the federal government to sign administration agreements with provinces, territories and municipalities allowing the federal government to use existing provincial penal regimes to prosecute federal contraventions. The Contraventions Act Fund provides funding to provinces, territories and municipalities that have signed administration agreements so that they can implement the Act in a manner consistent with the applicable constitutional language rights laws involving compliance with judicial services (section 530 and 530.1 of the Criminal Code) and extra-judicial services (Part IV of the Official Languages Act).

Recipients: Provincial and territorial departments and agencies and municipalities designated by provincial and territorial governments as being responsible for judicial activities and for providing extra-judicial services in both official languages.

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.

Results Achieved:

• Four jurisdictions (British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia) and one municipality (Mississauga) have entered into an agreement with language provisions with the Department and, as a result, are fully prepared to offer trials dealing with federal contraventions in a manner consistent with language rights protected in sections 530 and 530.1 of the Criminal Code. The same four jurisdictions and municipality have also taken measures to actively offer extra-judicial services in both official languages in all court locations covered by Part IV of the Official Languages Act.
• In 2010-11, the Department invited the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Alberta to begin negotiations towards signing agreements to implement the contraventions scheme that will contain provisions increasing both provinces’ capacity to offer judicial and extra-judicial services in both official languages.
• Ongoing negotiations with the Government of Prince Edward Island to sign a new agreement which will include standard provisions that will increase PEI’s capacity to offer judicial and extrajudicial services in both official languages made great strides and an agreement is expected to be signed in 2011-2012. The current agreement with the Province signed in 1997 does not contain language rights obligations.
• Negotiations with the Government of Québec to revise the existing agreement were positive and a new agreement is expected to be signed in 2011-2012.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	$4,289,100	$4,580,600	$9,094,900	$5,799,900	$4,541,496	$4,553,404
Total Program Activity(ies)	$4,289,100	$4,580,600	$9,094,900	$5,799,900	$4,541,496	$4,553,404

Comment(s) on Variance(s): The actual spending was lower than anticipated for the following reasons:

• The province of Newfoundland and Labrador did not sign an agreement in 2010-2011 as anticipated.
• The province of Prince Edward Island did not sign an agreement in 2010-2011.

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: The Department undertook an evaluation of the Contraventions Act in 2010 to better understand the experience of enforcement officers and federal departments in using the ticketing system included in the Act. This evaluation is complementary to those evaluations that the Department already conducted of the Contraventions Act Fund (2007), which provides assistance in the delivery of services in both official languages.

The summative evaluation of the Fund will be undertaken in 2011-2012.

Supporting Families experiencing Separation and Divorce Fund

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Supporting Families Fund (voted)²

Start Date: April 1, 2009

End Date: March 31, 2014

Description: The Supporting Families Fund is a key component of the Supporting Families Experiencing Separation and Divorce Initiative (SFI) which was announced by the Minister of Justice in September, 2008. The Fund is aimed at facilitating access to the family justice system for families experiencing separation and divorce, through various services, programs, and information resources, particularly those that promote compliance with financial support and custody/access obligations. The Fund also supports projects that promote public awareness about family law reforms concerning parenting arrangements, child support guidelines and support enforcements.

Recipients: Provincial and territorial departments, agencies, or other organizations designated by provincial and territorial governments as responsible for child support, the enforcement of support orders and agreements and parenting arrangement programs and services are eligible to apply for contribution funding under the Family Justice Initiatives and the Pilot Projects components of the Fund.

Any of the following may apply for contribution or class grant funding under the Public Legal Education and Information and Professional Training component of the Fund:

1. individuals;
2. non-profit professional organizations, societies or associations;
3. other non-profit organizations, societies or associations;
4. educational institutions;
5. private sector organizations sponsoring non-profit projects in partnership with federal, provincial, or territorial governments.

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values.

Results Achieved: Provided funding in the amount of $15,485,228 to provincial and territorial governments for family justice services and programs, particularly those that promote compliance with family law obligations.

Provided $450,154 to non-government organizations for developing family justice information resources, particularly those that promote compliance with family law obligations.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Grants	$7,600	$29,970	$50,000	$23,259	$23,249	$26,751
Total Contributions	$15,992,391	$15,847,819	$15,950,000	$15,976,741	$15,975,107	-$25,107
Total Program Activity(ies)	$15,999,991	$15,877,789	$16,000,000	$16,000,000	$15,998,356	$1,644

Comment(s) on Variance(s): The actual spending was lower than anticipated for the following reasons:

Under the Supporting Families Initiative, the amount of funding available to each jurisdiction and funding criteria has been established and shared with jurisdictions. Due to limitations in their internal capacity, some jurisdictions were not able to fully utilize the funds available to them in 2010-2011.

Fewer grant proposals than anticipated were received under the PLEI and Professional training component of the SF Fund in fiscal year 2010-2011.

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: The impact evaluation of the Supporting Families Initiative will be initiated in 2012/13, so that results will be available before the SFI’s funding cycle is completed in March 2014.

Aboriginal Justice Strategy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Aboriginal Justice Strategy (voted)

Start Date: April 1, 1991 as Aboriginal Justice Initiative, renewed as Aboriginal Justice Strategy in 1996, 2002, 2007

End Date: March 31, 2012

Description: The Aboriginal Justice Strategy (AJS) enables Aboriginal communities to have increased involvement in the local administration of justice and, as such, provides timely and effective alternatives to mainstream justice processes in appropriate circumstances. AJS programs are also aimed at reducing the rates of victimization, crime and incarceration among Aboriginal people in communities operating AJS programs, and helping the mainstream justice system become more responsive and sensitive to the needs and culture of Aboriginal communities.

Recipients:

1. Bands, First Nations, Tribal Councils, local, regional and national Aboriginal organizations
2. Agencies and institutions of regional/municipal governments
3. Non-profit community organizations, societies, and associations which have voluntarily associated themselves for a non-profit purpose
4. Provincial and territorial governments
5. Individuals
6. For-profit corporations, so long as these corporations will not make a profit on the work performed

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values

Results Achieved: In 2010-2011, the Aboriginal Justice Strategy supported 144³ community-based justice programs serving approximately 400 Aboriginal communities across Canada. This represents an overall increase of two community-based justice programs as compared to the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

48 capacity building projects, which support Aboriginal communities’ involvement in the local administration of justice, were funded during 2010-2011. This includes an increase of one capacity building project as compared to last fiscal year.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Grants	$13,105	$85,836	$260,000	$72,000	$62,702	$197,298
Total Contributions	$11,706,919	$11,904,293	$12,240,000	$11,943,000	$11,942,639	$297,361
Total Program Activity(ies)	$11,720,024	$11,990,129	$12,500,000	$12,015,000	$12,005,341	$494,659

Comment(s) on Variance(s): Actual spending was lower than anticipated due to a late fall national call for proposals under the Capacity Building Fund. As well, the negotiations and signing of some of the funding agreements under the Community-Based Justice Programs Fund occurred late in the fiscal year which contributed to the lower than anticipated spending.

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: A formative evaluation of the AJS was completed in spring 2010. The evaluation is available on the DOJ website. A summative evaluation is planned for 2011-2012.

Youth Justice Fund

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Youth Justice Fund (voted)

Start Date: April 1, 1999

End Date: Ongoing

Description: The Youth Justice Fund provides grants and contributions to projects that encourage a fairer and more effective youth justice system, respond to emerging youth justice issues and enable greater citizen and community participation in the youth justice system. The Fund includes three components: the Youth Justice Main Fund, Drug Treatment under the National Anti-Drugs Strategy, and Guns, Gangs and Drugs.

The Fund supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of pilot projects that provide programming and services for youth in conflict with the law. It supports professional development activities such as training and conferences for justice professionals and youth service providers. Additionally, it funds research on the youth justice system and related issues.

Projects must target youth who are between the ages of 12 and 17 and currently in conflict with the law, or justice professionals and/or service providers who work with these youth.

Recipients: Non-governmental organizations, youth justice stakeholders, Aboriginal organizations and provincial/territorial departments and agencies.

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values

Results Achieved:

• The Youth Justice Fund provided support to 33 projects to promote the making of “smart choices” through community-based educational, cultural, sporting and vocational opportunities for youth involved in gun, gang and drug activities; 17 projects for treatment services and programs targeting young persons in conflict with the law who have illicit substance abuse issues; and 18 projects targeting other priorities, including youth in conflict with the law with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. (Some projects targeted more than one of the above priorities.)
• The Fund initiated one major Call for Proposals in 2010-2011 resulting in 15 projects to develop networks among stakeholders on addressing issues related to gang-involved young offenders or provide training for youth service providers.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Grants	$384,169	$632,739	$730,000	$730,000	$674,678	$55,322
Total Contributions	$2,805,596	$3,796,700	$4,275,000	$4,275,000	$3,770,350	$504,650
Total Program Activity(ies)	$3,189,765	$4,429,439	$5,005,000	$5,005,000	$4,445,028	$559,972

Comment(s) on Variance(s): The Youth Justice Fund’s variance has decreased significantly in recent years, from approximately 40% in 2007-2008 to slightly over 10% in 2010-2011. This is due to greater uptake, as the Guns, Gangs and Drugs and Drug Treatment components become better known; the Fund’s increasing focus on larger, multi-year projects; and management initiatives, including Calls for Proposals in areas of priority.

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: The Youth Justice Fund was evaluated as part of the 2010 Youth Justice Funding Components Evaluation.

Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund (voted)

Start Date: April 1, 2003

End Date: March 31, 2013 and ongoing

Description: In June 2008, the Government launched the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future. The Department of Justice supports the Roadmap through the Initiative in Support of Access to Justice in Both Official Languages. This Initiative includes a consulting mechanism, a training Component in both Official Languages for Justice personnel, a component to encourage young bilingual Canadians to pursue law related careers in justice and a grants and contributions program called the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund (the Support Fund).

Objectives: In order to attain the objectives of the Initiative, the Department will invest resources into the Support Fund. All projects and activities must respond to one of the following objectives:

• Increase the capacity of the justice system and its stakeholders to offer justice services in both official languages.
• Increase awareness in the legal community and official language minority and majority communities concerning their rights and issues related to access to justice in both official languages.

Recipients:

• Canadian not-for-profit organizations.
• Provincial and territorial governments, regional and municipal governments, provincial and territorial Crown corporations.
• Canadian institutions/boards of education, including Centres for jurilinguistics.

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values

Results Achieved:

• The Department continued to provide ongoing financial support to the Fédération des associations de juristes d’expression française en common law and its seven member associations.
• The Department funded a total of 38 projects that responded to the needs of official language minority communities across Canada, including projects related to the implementation of the training component. In particular, in fiscal year 2010-2011, the Department funded:
  • 12 projects that provide advance training focusing on legal terminology for bilingual justice professionals
  • 1 project that contributes to the development of a curriculum for bilingual students interested in pursuing a career in the field of justice
  • 8 projects that aim to develop a recruitment strategy and to promote justice-related careers
  • 6 projects that are focused on developing linguistic training tools.
• The Department held an Access to Justice in both Official Languages Sub-Committee meeting in November 2010 to engage the official language minority communities. The objective of the meeting was to enable participants to generate ideas for potential partnerships to develop projects in line with the recommendations of the Canada-wide Analysis of Official Language Training Needs in the Area of Justice.
• The Access to Justice in Both Official Languages FPT Working Group also met in March 2010. For the first time, PT partners were represented both by PT Justice Departments and PT Francophone Affairs. This dual representation allowed for a more comprehensive discussion of issues and challenges facing access to justice in both official languages.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Grants	$49,912	$0	$50,000	$50,000	$24,050	$25,950
Total Contributions	$2,776,839	$3,295,230	$7,175,845	$6,975,845	$4,471,689	$2,704,156
Total Program Activity(ies)	$2,826,751	$3,295,230	$7,225,845	$7,025,845	$4,495,739	$2,730,106

Comment(s) on Variance(s): There were fewer projects than anticipated related to the training component that were received and approved in fiscal year 2010-2011.

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: Case studies were undertaken of four recipients.

Aboriginal Courtwork Program

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Aboriginal Courtwork Program (voted)

Start Date: April 1, 1978

End Date: March 31, 2013 and ongoing

Description: The objective of the Aboriginal Courtwork Program is to improve access to justice by helping Aboriginal people involved in the criminal justice system obtain fair, just, equitable and culturally-sensitive treatment. It is the only ongoing contribution funding justice program available to all Aboriginal people (adult and youth) regardless of status and residency. The Program provides Aboriginal persons charged with an offence with timely and accurate information on their rights, obligations, roles and responsibilities at the earliest possible stage of the criminal justice process. Services also include referring clients to appropriate legal and social resources in their community. Aboriginal Courtworkers serve as a “bridge” between criminal justice officials and Aboriginal people and communities, by providing information, cultural context, liaison and promoting communications and understanding.

Recipients: Provincial governments. A province may authorize one or more agencies to deliver Aboriginal Courtwork services on its behalf. All designated delivery agencies will be accountable to the funders. In addition, the new Projects in Support of the Aboriginal Courtwork Program component provide modest support for projects that further the mandate of the Program.

Strategic Outcome: A fair, relevant and accessible justice system that reflects Canadian values

Results Achieved:

• Contribution agreements with participating provinces supported the delivery of Aboriginal Courtwork services to ensure access to justice for Aboriginal people within the mainstream Canadian justice system that promoted fair, equitable and culturally relevant treatment before the courts. Over 200 Aboriginal Courtworkers employed by over 20 different service delivery agencies across Canada provided services to over 455 communities and approximately 54,307 Aboriginal people (adults and youth) charged with an offence of which approximately 30% are Aboriginal women.
• A map titled Location of Aboriginal Courtwork Programs in Canada has been printed and distributed. The map is available on the Department’s internet site.
• In addition, over the past 3 years, 38 projects have been funded in support of the Aboriginal Courtwork Program. Projects funded have focussed primarily on training for Aboriginal Courtworkers, research into issues of importance for courtwork delivery agencies and public legal education and information.

Program Activity: Justice policies, laws and programs
($ millions)

	2008-09 Actual Spending	2009-10 Actual Spending	2010-11 Planned Spending	2010-11 Total Authorities	2010-11 Actual Spending	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	$5,320,708	$5,366,085	$4,911,363	$5,411,363	$5,352,416	-$441,053
Total Program Activity(ies)	$5,320,708	$5,366,085	$4,911,363	$5,411,363	$5,352,416	-$441,053

Comment(s) on Variance(s): The Aboriginal Courtwork Program expanded its terms and conditions in February 2008, to include a new component, “Projects in support of the Aboriginal Courtwork Program”. The costs associated with the new component exceeded the forecasted budget.

Audit Completed or Planned: N/A¹

Evaluation Completed or Planned: A national court official survey began in 2010/2011. A national client survey is underway in 2011-2012. Both surveys will be used to inform the summative evaluation planned for 2012-2013.