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ARCHIVED - Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada - Report


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SECTION II – ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES BY STRATEGIC OUTCOME

2.1 Strategic Outcome

An Independent and Efficient Federal Judiciary.

The following section describes the program activities of the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs and identifies the expected results, performance indicators and targets for each of them. This section also explains how the department plans on meeting the expected results and presents the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each program activity.

This section contains a discussion of plans surrounding the following Program Activities:

2.2 Program Activity: Payments Pursuant to the Judges Act

 

Planned Spending
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
$474,685,800 $487,534,826 $500,885,033


Human Resources (FTEs)
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
0 0 0


Payments pursuant to the Judges Act - Expected Results
Program Activity Expected
Results
Performance
Indicators
Targets
Accurate and timely processing and validation of claims received for reimbursement of expenses in compliance with the Judges Act and departmental guidelines governing financial management.

Percentage of expense claims processed and validated for entry into tracking system.

Percentage of expense claims processed within service standard.

100% of expense claims compliant with Judges Act and departmental policies and guidelines.

90% of claims processed within service standard.

Comprehensive, up-to-date and validated files are kept on all judges and their survivors.

Percentage of judges satisfied with services.

80% of judges satisfied with services.

Efficient and effective administration of judges’ compensation and benefits programs and processes. Percentage of compensation and benefits claims processed within service standard. 90% of compensation and benefits claims processed within service standard.

This program activity provides for the payments of salaries, allowances and annuities to federally appointed judges, and their survivors, in the Superior Trial Courts and Courts of Appeal in Canada.

The number of judges is not included in the FTE count for the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs. As of January 1, 2012 there were 1,118 federally appointed judges in Canada and there were 836 retired judges and survivors receiving an annuity pursuant to the Judges Act.

 

2.3 Planning Highlights

In order to achieve the expected results, the department will dedicate the required resources to ensure that federally appointed judges are provided with a high level of service. A client satisfaction survey was recently completed which has assisted the department in determining and benchmarking the current level of satisfaction of the judges.

 

2.4 Program Activity: Canadian Judicial Council


Planned Spending
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
$1,703,016 $1,703,016 $1,703,016


Human Resources (FTEs)
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
11 11 11


Canadian Judicial Council - Expected Results
Program Activity Expected Results Performance
Indicators
Targets
Effective functioning of Canadian Judicial Council committees. CJC members satisfied with the administration and support of their committees. With ongoing dialogue with Committee Chairs, Council office will ensure satisfaction with secretariat support.

Provide integrated support (administrative, secretariat, policy and legal research and advice) to the Council in support of its statutory mandate to foster the better administration of justice in Canada and serve as the body that oversees judicial conduct.

The role of the Canadian Judicial Council personnel is to support the Council, its committees and its members in their carrying out of the Council’s mandate. Such support includes providing ongoing advice, ensuring the implementation of decisions taken, and managing administrative and executory functions as necessary for the efficient and effective execution of the mandate.

 

2.5 Planning Highlights

The Council office has 11 employees to manage and execute the mandate of the CJC, its annual meetings, and the work of Council committees.

 

2.6 Program Activity: Federal Judicial Affairs


Planned Spending
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
$7,714,532 $7,714,532 $7,714,532


Human Resources (FTEs)
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
51 51 51


Federal Judicial Affairs - Expected Results
Program Activity Expected Results Performance
Indicators
Targets
1. Timely and accurate administration of the Order-in-Council process. Percentage of Order-in-Councils submissions prepared within service standards. 90% of submissions prepared within service standard.
2. Access to a trusted and reliable email and collaboration tool.

Percentage of time core system available to users.

Percentage of judges satisfied with system.

Core systems available 98% of time on an annual basis.

75% of judges satisfied with system.

3. Federally appointed judges have access to timely, high-quality, and cost effective language training services. Waiting time for judges to access training services. 90% of judges have access to language assessment and training services within service standard.
4. Timely, accurate and bilingual publishing of the official reports of the Federal Court of Appeal and of the Federal Court.

Percentage of selected cases published within service standards.

Number of Parts published per year.

Number of erratums published per year.

Percentage of decisions rendered published per year.

Inclusion of quality value-added features (headnotes, captions, tables and lists, etc)

75% of selected cases are published within service standard.

12 Parts published per year.

No more than 5 erratums published per year.

5% of decisions rendered are published per year.

Canadians continue to have access to accurate decisions that undergo a thorough editorial process.

5. Fair and expeditious administration of the Judicial Appointments process. Percentage of applications screened and referred to Advisory Committees in a timely manner. 95% of applications reviewed and verified within service standard.

These FTE’s represent employees of the department who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department and to provide administrative services to federally appointed judges including language training, publishing of the Federal Courts Reports, and services to the Minister of Justice through the Judicial Appointments Secretariat. They also provide support to the judiciary in the areas of finance, human resources, administration and information management.

 

2.7 Planning Highlights

In order to achieve the expected results, a review of the existing Information Management systems will be undertaken with the objective of determining the best way to update the existing systems so that they are using current technologies.

During the course of the planning year, 8 judicial advisory committees will be ending their term and new committee members must be appointed. Training of these new members will be provided by FJA at the commencement of their term of appointment. Regular meetings with all 17 advisory committees will be held to provide the Minister of Justice with a pool of qualified candidates for judicial appointments in Canada.

A survey of those who consult the Federal Courts Reports was completed and the results continue to be used to plan and deliver service improvements.

The hosting and managing of the Federal Courts Reports section of FJA’s Web site was transferred to a new service provider, Irosoft Inc. effective January 1, 2011.

The Federal Courts Reports underwent a review of its publication process in March 2011. As a result, some opportunities for improvement were identified. By introducing electronic collaboration into its process, the Federal Courts Reports will significantly improve the efficiency of its publication process.

The Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission will be providing its recommendations to the Minister of Justice. Changes to judicial compensation and benefits may have an impact on the types of services provided by this office and the level of resources required.

 

2.8 Program Activity: Internal Services


Planned Spending
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
$874,800 $874,800 $874,800


Internal Services (FTEs)
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
8 8 8


Internal Services - Expected Results
Program Activity Expected Results Performance
Indicators
Targets
1. Resources are allocated and expended in a cost effective manner in accordance with the department’s Strategic Plan. Departmental lapse of resources. Annual budgetary lapse under 5%.
2. Department successfully attracts and retains the right people at the right time to meet its current and future business needs. Percentage of staff and management satisfied with Human Resource Services. 80% of staff and management are satisfied with the Human Resource Services.
3. A model workplace. Percentage of staff satisfied with the organization. 80% of staff are satisfied with the organization.
4. Information technology tools are available to meet departmental needs. Percentage of time the systems are available to users. Core systems available 98% of the time on an annual basis.

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of the organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Material Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across the organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.