ARCHIVED - Registry of the Specific Claims Tribunal

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SECTION II: ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES BY STRATEGIC OUTCOME

A) EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE SPECIFIC CLAIMS TRIBUNAL

Strategic Outcome

The sole strategic outcome for the Registry as approved by Treasury Board is the efficient administration of the Specific Claims Tribunal, which will be supported by activities related to registry services. The Registry provides administrative services to the judiciary, the legal profession, and the public in support of resolving cases across Canada fairly, without delay, and with an efficient, effective, and economic application of resources. Specifically, the Registry is responsible for intake and processing of specific claims, scheduling of hearings, giving notice to parties and affected individuals, production of documents, case and records management, provision of information to the public in both official languages, and attending all Tribunal hearings in support of the presiding Tribunal judge for the administration of justice.

Benefit to Canadians

Canada's Performance 2006 is divided into four key areas of policy: economic, social, international, and government affairs. The Registry's strategic outcome is aligned with Social Affairs: A Vibrant Canadian Culture and Heritage.

The long-term benefit for Canadians will be the efficient and effective resolution of outstanding specific claims across Canada, some of which currently provide the impetus for disruptive disputes at a financial and psychological cost to Canadians. Efficient operation of the Tribunal will create value for Canadians by saving costs associated with traditional Superior Court litigation, disputes, and lengthy negotiations.

Resolution of specific claims through the Specific Claims Tribunal will also remove a barrier for reconciliation among First Nations, other Canadians, and the Government of Canada. Monetary awards will provide an opportunity for successful First Nations to access capital that may then be reinvested in their communities, contributing to the on-going prosperity of First Nations people living on reserves.

Program Activity

The strategic objective will be met through registry services program activity. Registry services will provide for the intake, processing, and electronic management of all claims documents and related material. Registry officers will attend all Tribunal hearings in support of the presiding Tribunal judge and the administration of justice. Registry services will also ensure proper records and systems management and efficient administrative operations of the Tribunal, as well as communications to the public, claimants, governments, and other interested parties, in both official languages.

Program activity should result in

• timely access to the Tribunal across Canada through client service, quality of advice, efficient and timely processing, and unbiased service delivery;
• promotion of awareness and understanding of the Specific Claims Tribunal Act and related rules and procedures;
• smooth and efficient functioning of hearings; and
• provision of necessary tools and resources to allow Tribunal judges to perform their duties.

Performance indicators include

• the number of certificates of readiness for hearing issued on an annual basis;
• the measure of time between the receipt of a specific claim and issuance of the certificate of readiness for hearing;
• the level of awareness and understanding of the Specific Claims Tribunal rules and procedures within the core user groups, namely counsel for the stakeholders (First Nations and Crown alike);
• the number and quality of information projects;
• the level of efficiency of registry services in responding to enquiries, in processing documentation submitted by clients, in preparing the tribunal file for hearing, and in the dissemination of decisions rendered by the Tribunal;
• extent of satisfaction of parties involved in the hearings with respect to Registry services such as facilities, staff, and response time; and
• the level of satisfaction, on the part of the judicial members of the Tribunal, with the services provided, such as quality of work, tools, resources, and timeliness of service.

Performance targets include

• a Registry case back-log at or near zero;
• attain or exceed benchmark in the completion of Registry preparation of hearings;
• average life of Registry files from opening of the file to issuance of certificate of readiness for hearing within acceptable standards;
• attendance and participation in relevant tribunal administration and/or Aboriginal law conferences and meetings involving stakeholders and/or their counsel;
• completion of service standards and detailed targets for responding to enquiries, processing documentation, prompt scheduling of hearings, and issuance of decisions.
• achievement of service standards in delivery of all services.
• resolution of complaints, concerns, and emerging issues as soon as practicable, without attributable delay; and
• internal and external client satisfaction with Registry facilities and staff, plus quality and timeliness of Registry work as measured by implementation of an objective survey and by client feedback.

B) PROGRAM ACTIVITY BY STRATEGIC OUTCOME

The Registry has the sole strategic outcome of providing the efficient administration of the Specific Claims Tribunal to facilitate prompt access to the administration of justice without compromising independence.

STRATEGIC OUTCOME: EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE SPECIFIC CLAIMS TRIBUNAL PROGRAM ACTIVITY: REGISTRY SERVICES
2009–2010		2010–2011		2011–2012
FTEs	Planned Spending (millions of dollars)	ETP	Planned Spending (millions of dollars)	ETP	Planned Spending (millions of dollars)
19	2.6	19	2.6	19	2.6
EXPECTED RESULTS		PERFORMANCE INDICATORS		TARGETS
Timely access to the Tribunal across Canada through client service, quality of advice, efficient and timely processing, and unbiased service delivery.		Number of certificates of readiness for hearing issued on an annual basis.		No Registry case back-log. Attain or exceed benchmark in conduct and completion of Registry preparation of hearings.
		Measure of time between the receipt of a specific claim and the issuance of readiness for hearing certificate.		Average life of Registry files from opening of file to issuance of certificate of readiness for hearing within acceptable standards.
Promotion of awareness and understanding of the Specific Claims Tribunal Act and related rules and procedures.		Level of awareness and understanding of Specific Claims Tribunal rules and procedures within the core user groups, namely counsel for the stakeholders (First Nations and Crown alike).		Attendance and participation in relevant tribunal administration and/or Aboriginal law conferences and meetings involving stakeholders and/or their counsel.
		Number and quality of information projects.		Various information media made available to relevant parties in both official languages. Website information complete, accurate, and updated regularly.
Smooth and efficient functioning of hearings.		Level of efficiency of registry services in responding to inquiries, processing documentation submitted by clients, preparation of Tribunal file for hearing, and dissemination of decisions rendered by the Tribunal.		Completion of service standards and detailed targets for responding to enquiries, processing documentation, prompt scheduling of hearings, and issuance of decisions. Achievement of service standards in delivery of all services.
		Extent of satisfaction of parties involved in the hearings with respect to Registry services such as facilities, staff, and response time.		Internal and external client satisfaction with Registry facilities and staff, plus quality and timeliness of Registry work as measured by implementation of an objective survey and by client feedback. Resolve concerns and emerging issues as soon as practicable, without attributable delay.
Provision of necessary tools and resources to allow Tribunal judges to perform their duties across Canada.		Level of satisfaction with the services provided, such as quality of work, tools, resources, and timeliness of services.		Internal client satisfaction with quality of work and resources, measured by implementing an objective survey and seeking judicial feedback.

Program Activities Summary

The three essential elements to meeting the performance indicators, expected results, and targets are the availability of an efficient electronic registry, facilities and qualified human resources.

1) Electronic Registry

The implementation of an electronic registry is a vital strategic step towards providing efficient registry services. The registry will include integrated case management, an interactive Internet portal providing internal and external clients with access to the electronic registry, and an e-filing system for documents related to claims. A new case management system will establish a core set of case management functionalities for the business of the Registry. The ultimate goal is to provide an electronic tribunal file that is readily accessible by authorized users, Registry staff, and the judiciary. This information management system could mirror the contents of an official hard copy file, making possible the provision of hearing records that are electronic and “paperless.”

2) Facilities

Appropriate facilities are essential to cultureaally respectful delivery of Registry services. Users of facilities need to work in a fully functional environment that creates no logistic impediments. In the context of specific claims, culturally sensitive facilities are critical to the efficient and effective administration of justice, as well as to the satisfaction of external and internal clients and the public. The Registry will seek to provide facilities that take all of these factors into consideration.

3) Human Resources

The Registry is currently developing work descriptions that will allow it to effectively and efficiently classify and staff positions. In this important early construction phase, careful, clear, and transparent construction of succession planning, external recruitment, training, internal evaluation, and internal promotion is essential for employee retention and career development. Among Registry priorities for the coming year are integrating learning objectives that are directly related to the Registry officer level, and that cover all aspects of providing the services of a registry to our internal and external clients. Internal evaluation will provide staff with the greatest chance of advancement and promotion; this in turn will promote retention of talented staff, minimize the process of external staffing, and optimize service to Registry clients.

C) INTERNAL SERVICES PROGRAM DELIVERY

The Registry will be developing and implementing an integrated human resource and business framework, incorporating quality assurance methods such as performance agreements, performance evaluations, and succession plans. Planning will include both risk management and financial management.

D) PLANNING HIGHLIGHTS

• Essential financial policies in place by April 2009.
• Office renovation, including culturally sensitive multipurpose room, completed by April 2009.
• Integrated human resource and business plan completed by May 2009.
• Essential human resources policies in place by May 2009.
• Initial core Registry staff hired and trained by June 2009.
• Other essential policies in place by July 2009.
• Case management system operational by July 2009.
• Communication plan in place by August 2009.
• Quality service standards in place by August 2009.
• Tribunal offices completed by September 2009.
• Registry succession plan with internal evaluation, assessment, and advancement standards for internal promotion completed by October 2009.
• Specific Claims Tribunal website is operational for clients by November 2009.
• Electronic access to the Registry for both external and internal clients available by January 2010.
• Electronic filing with the Registry operational by February 2010.

E) BENEFITS FOR CANADIANS

Canada's Performance 2006 is divided into four key policy areas: economic, social, international, and government affairs. The Registry's strategic outcome is aligned with Social Affairs: A Vibrant Canadian Culture and Heritage.

The long-term benefit for Canadians will be the efficient and effective resolution of outstanding specific claims across Canada, some of which currently involve disruptive disputes that entail financial and psychological costs to Canadians. The efficient operation of the Tribunal will create value for Canadians by saving costs that would have otherwise been associated with disputes in the traditional superior court litigation system. Also there are the intangible benefits to all Canadians of having improved cultural harmony and understanding through the successful resolution of treaty disputes.

Resolution of specific claims will also remove a barrier for the reconciliation of First Nations, the Government of Canada, and the Canadian public at large, allowing for greater harmony and collaboration in other joint Aboriginal–federal issues. Monetary awards will provide the opportunity for successful First Nations to access capital that may then be reinvested in their communities, contributing to the ongoing prosperity of First Nations people living on reserves.

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