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The Honourable Vic Toews
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Section I: Overview
Registrar's Message
Management Representation Statement
Summary Information
Departmental Plans and Priorities
Section II: Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome
Process Hearings and Decisions - Results and Performance Objectives
Sub-Activities - Results and Performance Objectives
Section III: Supplementary Information
Organizational Information
Financial Tables
Contacts of Further Information
Listing of Statutory and Departmental Reports
Legislation Administered
To achieve this, the Office of the Registrar must facilitate the work of the Judges and take necessary steps to enhance access to the Court required by litigants and Canadian citizens. This Report on Plans and Priorities illustrates the vision which is intended to bring ongoing and tangible improvements to the services provided to the Judges, the legal community and the public at large. It reflects the commitment to institutional independence of the court within a framework of sound public management.
The challenges faced by the Office of the Registrar are numerous: a heavy workload, a dynamic technological environment, a heritage building and increased demands for access to the court. The Office of the Registrar will continue to utilize a strengthened risk management process and improved performance management framework to face these challenges and meet established goals. Key priorities for the coming year include the completion of the improvements required to the physical access to the building, the implementation of the Courtroom Audio Visual Information Technology project, and the full implementation of the Public Service Modernization Act.
The Office of the Registrar is fortunate to be able to rely on a dedicated and motivated team of managers and employees, who demonstrate, on an ongoing basis, the values fostered by the Public Service, democratic and professional values combined with ethical and people values. Management and staff are respectful of rules and traditions, but flexible and able to adapt to the changing needs of all its stakeholders. On this strong foundation, the Office of the Registrar will continue to contribute to the better administration of justice in Canada.
I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2006-2007 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for
The Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada
This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2006-2007 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:
Name: _____________________
Anne Roland
Registrar
Title:_____________________
Date: _____________________
Mission - Reason for Existence
The Court is committed to:
The Office of the Registrar of the Court supports the Court by:
|
The mandate of the Supreme Court of Canada is to have and exercise an appellate, civil and criminal jurisdiction within and throughout Canada. It meets this mandate by hearing and deciding cases of public importance.
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in Canada and one of its most important national institutions. It hears appeals from the decisions of the courts of appeal of the provinces and territories as well as from the Federal Court of Appeal. In addition, the Court is required to give its opinion on any questions referred to it by the Governor in Council.
The Court is comprised of the Chief Justice and eight Puisne Judges, all of whom are appointed by the Governor in Council.
The importance of decisions of the Court for Canadian society is well recognized. The Court assures uniformity, consistency and correctness in the articulation, development and interpretation of legal principles throughout the Canadian judicial system. Its jurisdiction is derived from the Supreme Court Act and other Acts of Parliament such as the Criminal Code.
More detailed information on the Court's responsibilities, the hearing process and judgments is available on the
Internet
(http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca).
Mission of the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada
The Registrar answers directly to the Chief Justice, exercises quasi-judicial powers and is responsible for the administration of the Court. The principal responsibilities of the Office of the Registrar are to provide a full range of administrative and support services to the Judges and to manage the cases coming to the Court. The management of cases includes maintaining its records, scheduling hearings and ensuring the publication of decisions. Specific functions carried out by the Office of the Registrar include:
The Office of the Registrar is funded through a non-statutory appropriation. The entitlements to the Supreme Court Judges provided for in the Judges Act are funded through a statutory authority.
Resources
Financial Resources (in millions)
2006-2007
|
2007-2008
|
2008-2009
|
27.8
|
27.9
|
27.9
|
Human Resources (in Full-Time Equivalents)
2006-2007
|
2007-2008
|
2008-2009
|
190
|
190
|
190
|
Priorities
The Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada has a single strategic outcome - to provide the best possible decision-making environment for the Supreme Court. The Court itself is fundamental to the Canadian judicial framework, and as such, supports all of the Government of Canada's outcomes, as reported in Canada's Performance 2005.
A listing of the Government of Canada's outcomes can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/report/govrev/05/cp-rc-eng.asp
The following table identifies the Office of the Registrar's priorities. Further detail is provided in the remainder of this document.
Departmental Priorities by Strategic Outcome Strategic Outcome: Process hearings and decisions |
Priority
|
Type of Priority
|
Program Activity - Expected Result |
Process cases without delay |
Ongoing
|
Process hearings and decisions |
Provide information |
Ongoing
|
Process hearings and decisions
Access to information Access to Court Services |
Manage Risk |
Previously committed to in 2004/05
|
Process hearings and decisions
Sound Management |
Build Capacity |
Previously committed to in 2004/05
|
Process hearings and decisions
Productive workforce |
|
2006-07
|
2007-08
|
2008-09
|
|
|
|
|
Process Cases Without Delay |
21.0
|
21.6
|
21.6
|
Provide Information |
3.1
|
3.1
|
3.1
|
Manage Risk |
0.9
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
Build Capacity |
2.8
|
2.8
|
2.8
|
The environment within which the Office of the Registrar must carry out its activities is continually evolving. The legal environment is becoming increasingly complicated and technological advancements place ongoing pressure on the Court to update its facilities and services. In addition, the Office of the Registrar is faced with greater public demand for information and services, all in the context of a changing and highly complex judicial environment. The globalization of the law, democratization, human rights issues and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms create an environment where the Court is regularly faced with difficult and complex - and often high profile - issues for resolution. The pressure on the Court to "get it right" is unrelenting and daunting, which in turn places significant demands on the staff of the Office of the Registrar, who are required to undertake in-depth research and analysis, respond to requests for information from the public and media, and provide assistance to the litigants and lawyers.
Changes and trends in court administration include:
Increasingly, the delivery of Court services and information will need to be tailored to specific communities of stakeholders. More specifically:
Risks
The Office of the Registrar has identified its risks at an organization-wide level and within each of its business sectors. The following risks are identified having highest priority:
Stakeholders and Strategic Relationships
The Office of the Registrar strives to meet the expectations of a wide range of stakeholders, including:
Plans and Priorities
As in previous years, the key priority of the Office of the Registrar for 2006-07 is the on-going processing of cases without delay. Other supporting priorities are to provide information, manage risks, and continue to build capacity in terms of people, information management/technology, processes and facilities. These priorities are summarized in the chart below and discussed in further detail in the text that follows.
Priorities of the Office of the Registrar
Click image to enlarge
Process cases without delay
Since the fundamental and on-going priority of the Court is to hear cases and render decisions in a timely fashion, it follows that the ultimate and fundamental priority of the Office of the Registrar is to process cases without delay. The Office of the Registrar strives to process hearings and decisions promptly and provide the required level of support to the Court. The focus of the Office of the Registrar will continue to be to maintain stakeholder satisfaction, maintain high standards of quality, process cases faster and eliminate case backlogs. Dealing with workload pressures will continue to be a concern as the volume and complexity of the cases brought before the Court is beyond its control.
Provide information
The Office of the Registrar has made strong efforts in recent years to develop its outreach/education program in order to improve access to Court information by external stakeholders (e.g., public, media, and legal community) and foster an increased understanding of the Court and its role. Existing outreach activities include education programs, media relations, international relations, protocol activities and Web communications. Efforts have also been made to improve access to case decisions and historical case information, and to provide the media better access to Court decisions. The priorities for 2006-2007 will be developing a strategy to implement a policy for electronic access to Court records taking into consideration the model policy recommended by the Canadian Judicial Council, and taking a lead role in the planning and organization of the Association of Canadian Court Administrators (ACCA) and Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) conferences.
Manage risks
The Office of the Registrar has made progress in implementing an integrated approach for identifying, assessing and managing all risks facing the Court and recently developed new policies and processes for dealing with sensitive court files. Security remains an ongoing key concern in terms of risk management, and there continues to be a sustained focus on improving the security regime and implementing the recommendations of the recent security audit. The modernization of the Courtroom audio visual and information technology is considered a key project as the equipment failures in the Courtroom must be minimized.
Build people capacity
The Office of the Registrar will continue to align its human resource practices to the requirements of the Public Service Modernization Act, and implement a number of activities within the overall framework of HR Modernization, the main focus being on staffing. Another key priority during 2006/2007 will be HR planning and the integration of HR planning, in particular succession planning, with business planning so as to ensure the Office of the Registrar has the people with the appropriate skills and abilities. This will allow for better risk management in Human Resources.
Build information management/technology capacity
The Office of the Registrar has been implementing a multi-year information management and technology strategy for managing and accessing information. This undertaking includes the Intranet/Internet, systems and repositories for communicating information, storage and handling of archival information, and preservation of electronic information through a variety of stable and tested formats (e.g., migration to DVD, microform). The intent is to reduce duplication of information, improve the ability of the Office of the Registrar to respond effectively to requests for information, and support the sharing and transfer of knowledge. Electronic document management will continue to be the primary focus over 2006-2007—the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) Phase II project will provide better tools to standardize classification, storage and retention of Court information and records, allow for an interface with the Case Management System, and establish the infrastructure necessary to provide functional e-filing services to external stakeholders.
Another key focus will be the development of a new Library Management System (LMS) that will improve service through the integration of the Court's print and electronic legal research resources, and enhance the functionality and connectivity of the system with third parties.
Build processing capacity
The Office of the Registrar will continue to focus on service improvement, performance measurement, and to improve the rules of practice of the Court and to correct service deficiencies as they arise. A key focus of the upcoming fiscal year will be the implementation of workflow changes resulting from the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) and Library Management System (LMS) enhancements, and a more integrated approach to business planning that incorporates both HR and asset planning.
Improve facilities
Two facilities projects identified in last year's RPP are still underway (though the scope of these projects has changed). These are:
The Office of the Registrar has a single strategic outcome—to provide the best possible decision-making environment for the Supreme Court of Canada. The planned results in support of this remain the same as those in the 2005-2006 RPP. These are:
The Office of the Registrar has one activity—process hearings and decisions; and four sub-activities—Executive services, Court Operations, Library and Information Services, and Payments pursuant to the Judges Act.
The performance indicators for each of these results are summarized in the chart below. The performance measurement framework for the Office of the Registrar also includes performance indicators related to a Motivated Workforce and Sound Management.
Performance measurement framework of the Office of the Registrar
Click image to enlarge
We describe below in greater detail the expected results, the performance indicators, and how the plans and priorities of the Office of the Registrar will help it achieve its performance objectives.
Activity | Expected Result | Performance Indicators |
Process hearings and decisions | Process cases without delay |
• Feedback re quality of service |
Expected result: Process cases without delay
This result is the "raison d'ĂȘtre" of the Office of the Registrar. The performance indicators relate mainly to the quality and timeliness of the service provided.
Sub-Activity | Expected Results | Performance Indicators |
---|---|---|
Executive services | Independence of the Court | • Perception of institutional independence • Identification of potential conflict of interest
|
Court Operations | Access to Court services |
•Time to respond to requests for information |
Library and Information Services | Access to information |
• Internal access to case information |
Payments pursuant to the Judges Act | Reliable payment process | • Accuracy and timeliness of payments |
Expected result: Independence of the Court
The situation of the Court at the apex of the judiciary gives it a wide visibility in Canada, and to a lesser extent, abroad. In this context, the Office of the Registrar must ensure that the independence of the institution is clearly safeguarded within the framework of sound public administration. It requires that appropriate arms-length relationships be maintained with Parliament, the Department of Justice and the Central Agencies. Key indicators are:
Expected result: Access to Court services
The Office of the Registrar must ensure that the Court is accessible and that it provides services to litigants including the processing of cases with the minimum delay. Key indicators are:
Expected result: Access to information
The Office of the Registrar will be continuing to develop and implement its long term strategy to improve the management of, and access to, information. Key indicators are:
The Office of the Registrar has a single Program Activity - To process hearings and decisions - which provides the services the Court requires to render its decisions. The Registrar is accountable for this program activity. The Program Activity Architecture (PAA) of the Office of the Registrar is closely aligned with its organizational structure as shown in the charts below.
Office of the Registrar Sectors / Branches | Program Sub-Activity and Sub-Sub Activities (PAA) |
---|---|
Executive Services Sector Office of the Registrar Executive Services Branch |
Executive Operations and International Relations |
Court Operations Sector Deputy Registrar Office Law Branch Registry Branch |
Office of the Deputy Registrar and Public Information Services Legal Services Registry Services |
Library and Information Services Sector Director General, Library and Information Services
Special Projects
|
Library Services Information Technology and Security Services (program specific)* Information Management Services (program specific)* |
Corporate Services Sector Director General, Corporate Services Office Finance and Materiel Management Human Resources Management Accommodation, Administrative and Security Services |
DG Corporate Services and Strategic Planning Finance and Materiel Management
Accommodation, Administrative and Security Services |
*For PAA purposes the corporate portion of IM/IT services has been identified as separate sub-sub activities under the Corporate and Administrative Services program activity.
Registrar
Appointed by the Governor General, the Registrar is the Deputy Head of the Court, answers directly to the Chief Justice and exercises quasi-judicial powers. Her office provides management and support to the chambers of the nine Judges, the office of the Executive Legal Officer, the law clerk program, and dignitary visits.
Deputy Registrar
The Deputy Registrar, a Governor in Council appointee, oversees the work of the Court Operations Sector, which includes the Registry Branch and the Law Branch. Public information services, including the management of the Court's Tour Program, are also provided by staff in the Deputy Registrar's Office.
Registry
The Registry is the hub of all procedural and documentary activities at the Court. The Registry processes, records and directs the flow of all documents filed by the parties and records all events which take place during the life of a case. It "cases manages" every leave application, appeal and motion to ensure that cases are dealt with efficiently, so that no time is wasted by Judges on procedural matters or incomplete filings. The Registry assists parties by providing information on the Court's processes and activities, schedules the Court's sittings, ensures support in the Courtroom during hearings and finalizes the documentation for cases after judgments have been rendered.
Law Branch
The Law Branch provides legal services to the Judges and the administration of the Court, and manages the publication of the judgments of the Court in both official languages. Staff lawyers provide legal opinions on all leave applications filed and legal editing of all reasons for decisions. The Branch also manages the Registrar's legal correspondence and prepares and publishes the Bulletin of Proceedings and news releases which outline the Court's agenda and listing judgments rendered or to be rendered.
Library and Information Services
Library and Information Services are provided by the: Library, Information Management and Technology Branch and Special Projects. Sector services are designed primarily to serve the Court and its business units, and through them litigants, the media and the public. These responsibilities extend to the corporate level where this centre of expertise is charged with ensuring that the management of the Court's information meets legal and central agency requirements.
Corporate Services
The administrative and operational support to the Judges and Court staff is provided by the Corporate Services, which is responsible for accommodation, finance, procurement, human resources, administration, security and strategic planning.
Table 1: Departmental Planned Spending and Full Time Equivalents
($ millions)
|
Forecast Spending 2005-2006 |
Planned Spending 2006-2007 |
Planned Spending 2007-2008 |
Planned Spending 2008-2009 |
Process Hearings and Decisions | ||||
Budgetary Main Estimates (gross) |
27.2
|
27.8
|
27.9
|
27.9
|
Non-Budgetary Main Estimates (gross) |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Less: Respendable revenue |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Total Main Estimates |
27.2
|
27.8
|
27.9
|
27.9
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
Governor General Special Warrants: | ||||
Supplementary Estimates: |
|
|
|
|
Operating Budget Carryforward from 2004-2005 |
1.0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Compensation for collective agreements |
0.5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Funding for the purpose of upgrading the security & accessibility of the east entrance of the Supreme Court of Canada building. |
0.3
|
|
|
|
Total Adjustments |
1.8
|
|||
Total Planned Spending * |
29.0
|
27.8 |
27.9
|
27.9
|
Less: Non respendable revenue Plus: Cost of services received without charge
|
(0.2)
5.5
|
(0.2)
5.5
|
(0.2)
5.6
|
(0.2)
5.9
|
Net Cost of Program |
34.3
|
33.1
|
33.3
|
33.6
|
Full Time Equivalents |
182
|
190
|
190
|
190
|
* The procurement savings, not included above due to their immateriality, are $30,000 in 2005-2006, and $50,000 thereafter.
Table 2: Resources by Program Activity
($ millions)
Budgetary 2006-07
Program Activity
|
Operating
|
Gross
|
Respendable Revenue
|
Net
|
Process hearings and decisions
|
27.8
|
27.8
|
-
|
27.8
|
Non-Budgetary 2006-07
Program Activity |
Loans, Investments and Advances
|
Total Main Estimates
|
Adjustments (planned spending not in Main Estimates)
|
Total Planned Spending
|
Process hearings and decisions |
-
|
27.8
|
-
|
27.8
|
Table 3: Voted and Statutory Items
Vote or Statutory Item
|
Supreme Court of Canada
|
2006-2007 Main Estimates
($ millions) |
2007-2008 Main Estimates
($ millions) |
50
|
Program Expenditures
|
20.8
|
20.9
|
(S)
|
Judges' salaries, allowances and annuities, annuities to spouses and children of judges lumpsum payments to spouses of judges who die while in office. |
4.6
|
4.6
|
(S)
|
Contributions to employee benefit plans |
2.4
|
2.4
|
|
Total Agency |
27.8
|
27.9
|
Table 4: Services Received Without Charge
($ millions)
|
2006-2007
|
Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Contributions covering employers' share of employees' insurance premiums and expenditures paid by TBS |
4.4
1.1 |
Total 2006-07 Services received without charge |
5.5
|
Table 5: Summary of Capital Spending by Program Activity
($ millions)
|
Forecast
Spending 2005-2006 |
Planned
Spending 2006-2007 |
Planned
Spending 2007-2008 |
Planned
Spending 2008-2009 |
Process Hearings and Decisions |
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
Total |
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
Table 6: Sources of Respendable and Non-Respendable Revenue
Respendable Revenue
($ millions)
|
Forecast Revenue 2005-2006
|
Planned Revenue 2006-2007
|
Planned Revenue 2007-2008
|
Planned Revenue 2008-2009
|
Process Hearings and Decisions |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Total Respendable Revenue |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Non-Respendable Revenue
($ millions)
|
Forecast Revenue 2005-2006
|
Planned Revenue 2006-2007
|
Planned Revenue 2007-2008
|
Planned Revenue 2008-2009
|
Process Hearings and Decisions | ||||
Judge's contributions towards annuities |
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
Sales of goods, services and information products |
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
Total Non-Respendable Revenue |
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
Total Respendable and Non-respendable Revenue
|
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
Table 7: Resource Requirement by Branch or Sector
2006-2007
($ millions)
|
Process Hearings and Decisions
|
Total Planned Spending
|
Executive Services |
5.2
|
5.2
|
Court Operations |
7.0
|
7.0
|
Library and Information Services |
6.8
|
6.8
|
Corporate Services |
4.2
|
4.2
|
Payments Pursuant to the Judges' Act |
4.6
|
4.6
|
Total |
27.8
|
27.8
|
Table 8 : Details on Project Spending
The SCC commenced two significant projects in 2005-2006. The first project is a refit of the SCC building's east entrance, and is designed to improve both the accessibility to and security of the building. Funding for this project in the amount of $773,000 was approved by Treasury Board. The project is expected to be completed in 2006-2007.
The SCC also commenced work on a project to replace the existing audio-visual equipment in the courtroom, and to add modern information technology capabilities. Because the court hearing schedule limits the time available to implement the project, the completion date of this project is anticipated to be in 2007-2008. Funding for this project has not yet been approved.
Supplementary information on project spending can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20062007/p3a-eng.asp.
Table 9: Internal Audits and Evaluations
Audit Project
|
Preliminary Audit Objective and Scope |
Estimated Timing
|
Audit of Information Security
|
The audit will review the management practices in place in Program Operations to secure information holdings, both in paper and electronic formats (e.g., confidential, sealed, other security requirements), including how risks of improperly disclosing information and other risks are managed. The audit will also examine how roles and responsibilities for the protection of the information holdings in Program Operations are defined and implemented |
April 1, 2006 - March 31, 2007
|
Audit of IT
|
The audit will examine the reliability of the IT infrastructure (including remote control) to support the Court's activities. The scope includes IT security but also other aspects of the IT infrastructure, which will be specified. The audit will also determine the extent to which the implementation of the recommendations from the 2001/02 IT Security Audit have resolved the security failures previously identified in the Court's IT infrastructure. In addition, the audit will likely assess the Court's state of IT security against the new government standards of the Management of IT Security (MITS) tool (to be completed by TBS in December 2006). |
April 1, 2006 - March 31, 2007
|
Finance Audit | The audit will examine selected areas or types of transactions to be specified, such as travel and hospitality, acquisition cards, etc. |
April 1, 2006 - March 31, 2007
|
Audit of the Protocol Function | This audit will cover the protocol function, which refers to the international role of the Court Judges. The audit will review the effectiveness, efficiency and economy of the Office of the Registrar's ability to support the Judges in meeting their international duties. |
April 1, 2007 - March 31, 2008
|
Audit of Registry Function | The audit will review the efficiency of the Registry function to support the work of the Judges and the Office of the Registrar. All areas of the Registry will be covered (e.g., tracking and monitoring of cases and other information holdings (manual, electronic and audio-visual formats); priorization of cases; appropriateness of systems; availability of specialized resources (staff, equipment); and management of risks. |
April 1, 2007 - March 31, 2008
|
The planned audits are based upon the Court's audit plan, approved in April 2005. The Plan is reviewed annually and is subject to change based upon emerging risks and priorities.
Supreme Court of Canada Building 301 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0J1 World Wide Web: http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/ |
General Enquiries Telephone: (613) 995-4330 Fax: (613) 996-3063 Internet Access reception@scc-csc.gc.ca |
Anne Roland - Registrar Telephone: (613) 996-9277 |
E-mail: reception@scc-csc.gc.ca |
Louise Meagher - Deputy Registrar Telephone: (613) 996-7521 |
E-mail: registry-greffe@scc-csc.gc.ca |
Carolyn McDonald - Director General, Corporate Services Telephone: (613) 996-0429 |
E-mail: mcdonaldc@scc-csc.gc.ca |
Supreme Court Reports Pursuant to Section 17 of the Supreme Court Act, the Registrar or the Deputy Registrar, as the Chief Justice directs, is responsible for the publication of the judgments of the Court in the Supreme Court Reports, which include all the reasons for judgment rendered by the Court in a given calendar year. |
Supreme Court Act R.S.C., 1985, C.S-26 as amended Judges Act R.S.C., 1985, C.J-1 as amended |
($ millions) | Current Estimated Total Cost | Forecast Spending to March 31, 2006 |
Process hearings and decisions | ||
East entrance refit |
1.2
|
.7 |
Courtroom audio-visual and information technology | 5.8* | .7 |
($ millions) |
Planned Spending 2006-2007 |
Planned Spending 2007-2008 |
Planned Spending 2008-2009 |
Process hearings and decisions | |||
East entrance refit |
.5
|
- | - |
Courtroom audio-visual and information technology | 4.3* | .8* | - |
* Funding for this project has been requested, but not yet approved.