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Details on Transfer Payment Programs (TPP)

The principal objective of the Department of Justice Three-Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs is to provide applicants, recipients, parliamentarians, and other stakeholders with information essential to identifying planned departmental activities that might have an impact on specific programs of interest.  More information can be found at http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/dept-min/tpp-ppt/index.html.

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

Program activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

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

Start date: April 1st, 1978

End date: March 31st, 2013

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: Federal contributions will be made to provincial governments to provide Aboriginal Courtwork services to Aboriginal persons (adults and youths) charged with an offence under any federal or provincial statute, municipal by-law. 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.

Expected results:

Culturally sensitive services are provided to Aboriginal people charged with an offence.


Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $0 $0 $0 $0
Total contributions $5,361,363 $4,911,363 $4,911,363 $4,911,363
Total Transfer payments $5,361,363 $4,911,363 $4,911,363 $4,911,363

Planned evaluations:

Summative Evaluation completed June 2008. National client survey planned for 2011-2012


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Aboriginal Justice Strategy Fund (Voted)

Start date: April 1st, 1991 as Aboriginal Justice Initiative, renewed as AJS in 1996, 2002, 2007

End date: March 31st, 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: a) bands, First Nations, Tribal Councils, local, regional and national Aboriginal organizations; b) agencies and institutions of regional/municipal governments; c) non-profit community organizations, societies, and associations which have voluntarily associated themselves for a non-profit purpose; d) provincial and territorial governments; e) individuals; and, f) for-profit corporations, so long as these corporations will not make a profit on the work performed.

Expected results:

  • A reduction in crime and incarceration rates in communities with AJS programs.
  • Safer, healthier Aboriginal communities where AJS programs are in place.
  • Increased Aboriginal community involvement in the local administration of justice.
  • Ability to track trends in Aboriginal community justice over time.
  • Mainstream justice is more responsive to the needs of Aboriginal people.

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $29,105 $260,000 $260,000 $260,000
Total contributions $11,900,809 $12,240,000 $12,240,000 $12,240,000
Total Transfer payments $11,929,914 $12,500,000 $12,500,000 $12,500,000

Planned evaluations:

Formative evaluation planned for completion 2008-09

Summative evaluation planned for completion 2011-12


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

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

Start date: April 1st, 2003

End date: March 31st, 2013

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 Justice Training Component to encourage young bilingual Canadians to pursue law related careers in justice that can be practiced in the other official language and a grants and the renewal of a contributions programme 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.

Expected results:

Training priorities established following results of the nation wide needs analysis on training needs in both official languages in the area of justice. Coordination mechanism related to training is created and functional. 8 financial agreements concluded in terms of core funding from the Support Fund. 30% of financed projects will focus on awareness or knowledge. 35% of projects will have other sources of funding (other than from the Department). 5 projects will fall under the training component.


Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Total contributions $2,742,845 $5,176,846 $7,175,846 $7,175,846
Total Transfer payments $2,792,845 $5,226,846 $7,225,846 $7,225,846

Planned evaluations:

Case studies in 2010-2011


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Access to Justice Services – the Territories (Voted)

Start date: April 1st, 1997

End date: March 31st, 2012

Description:

The objective of the Access to Justice Services Agreements is to enable the territories to deliver access-to-justice-related services in the areas of Legal Aid (both criminal and civil), Aboriginal Courtwork and Public Legal Education and Information. They are contribution agreements between the federal government and Canada's three territories, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and the means by which the federal government provides funding support for these access to justice services.

Recipients: Contributions will be made to those territorial governments that undertake to provide services to eligible persons and eligible young persons in matters relating to the overall objectives of the Access to Justice Services Agreements. The territories may authorize entities ("territorial access to justice services delivery entities") to provide services in these matters. In instances of court-ordered counsel in federal prosecutions, the recipient may also be a territorial access to justice services delivery entity.

Expected results:

Territories are enabled to deliver access to justice services (Legal Aid (criminal and civil), Aboriginal Courtwork and Public Legal Education and Information).


Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $0 $0 $0 $0
Total contributions $5,369,480 $4,856,593 $4,856,593 $4,856,593
Total Transfer payments $5,369,480 $4,856,593 $4,856,593 $4,856,593

Planned evaluations:

A summative evaluation of the Aboriginal Courtwork Program, which included the territories, was completed in June 2008.  An Aboriginal Courtwork client survey is planned for 2011-2012.   The Department will undertake an impact evaluation of its Legal Aid Program, including the territories, to be concluded by March 31, 2012.


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Implementation of official languages requirement under the Contraventions Act (a.k.a. Contraventions Act Fund)  (Voted)

Start date: April 1st, 2002

End date: March 31st, 2013

Description:

The mechanics of the Contraventions Act includes the identification of federal offences that are to be considered “contraventions” and the establishment of a scheme to process these contraventions.  In 2001, the Federal Court was asked to clarify the extent to which judicial and extra-judicial language rights requirements were applicable in the context of the Contraventions Act.  The Court concluded that while the federal government is authorized to use the prosecution scheme of a province or territory to process federal contraventions, it must comply with all language rights requirements that would be applicable in the context of a federal prosecution scheme.  More specifically, the Court stated that any level of government that processes federal contraventions is, in fact, acting on behalf of the Government of Canada.

Following the Federal Court decision, the Department of Justice initiated the process of amending existing Contraventions Act agreements to include new provisions addressing language rights requirements identified in the ruling.  Such provisions are now also an integral part of all new agreements with other provinces. To support this process, the Department of Justice has received funding that is referred to as the Contraventions Act Fund.

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.

Expected results:

  • Increase capacity to offer in both official languages judicial activities and extra-judicial services in relation to the prosecution of federal contraventions.
  • The judicial activities relating to the prosecution of federal offences under the Contraventions Act respect the language rights found in section 530 and 530.1 of the Criminal Code and the extra-judicial services provided respect Part IV of the Official Languages Act.

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $0 $0 $0 $0
Total contributions $4,652,900 $9,094,900 $9,094,900 $9,094,900
Total Transfer payments $4,652,900 $9,094,900 $9,094,900 $9,094,900

Planned evaluations:

2009-10: Technical Study of the Contraventions Act *

2010-11: Mid-term Evaluation of the Fund

2011-12: Summative Evaluation of the Fund **

* As part the research plan, the technical study includes the range of questions addressed, along with the methodology, budget and timeframe.
** The summative evaluation will be conducted over two years, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

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

Start date: April 1st, 2002

End date: March 31st, 2013

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

Expected results:

Through the contribution agreements signed under this Program, provinces and territories will have the capacity to implement sentencing options that involve specialized treatment programs to address the mental health issues of serious violent youth offenders


Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $0 $0 $0 $0
Total contributions $9,065,996 $11,048,000 $11,048,000 $11,048,000
Total Transfer payments $9,065,996 $11,048,000 $11,048,000 $11,048,000

Planned evaluations:

A summative evaluation is planned for 2009-2010


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Legal Aid Program (Voted)

Start date: August 17th, 1971

End date: March 31st, 2012

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 Services Agreements).

Recipients: Provinces

Expected results:

Provinces are 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 are not stayed due to lack of funded defence counsel.


Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $0 $0 $0 $0
Total contributions $119,827,507 $119,827,507 $119,827,507 $119,827,507
Total Transfer payments $119,827,507 $119,827,507 $119,827,507 $119,827,507

Planned evaluations:

The Legal Aid Program impact evaluation for the current five-year period is planned to be completed in fiscal year 2011-12.


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Public Security and Anti-terrorism Legal Aid (Voted)

Start date: April 1st, 2001

End date: March 31st, 2012

Description:

The objective of the Program is to provide contributions to the provinces, territories and their legal aid delivery entities to cover their costs for persons eligible for legal aid and charged under the federal government’s anti-terrorism legislation.  This program is necessary given the federal government’s strong policy interest in national security and related legal proceedings.

Recipients: Provinces, territories or their legal aid delivery entities

Expected results:

Canada-wide legal systems that  are efficient, fair, relevant and accessible, and that  promote public confidence in access to justice


Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $0 $0 $0 $0
Total contributions $6,492,663 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000
Total other types of transfer payments $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Transfer payments $6,492,663 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000

Planned evaluations:

The Department will undertake an impact evaluation of its legal aid program, including Public Security and Anti-terrorism legal aid, to be concluded by March 31, 2012.


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Supporting Families experiencing Separation and Divorce Fund (SF Fund) (Voted) 1

Start date: April 1st, 2009

End date: March 31st, 2014

Description:

The SF 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.

Expected results:

Increased compliance by parents with the terms and conditions of family law support, custody and access obligations.


Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
1
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $0 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000
Total contributions $0 $15,950,000 $15,950,000 $15,950,000
Total Transfer payments $0 $16,000,000 $16,000,000 $16,000,000

Planned evaluations:

No evaluation is planned for 2009/2010 (first year of the Initiative). The evaluation framework, performance measurement structure and evaluation plan will be developed in 2009/2010.

1 Note: Supporting Families Experiencing Separation and Divorce Fund will replace the former Child-centred Family Justice Fund which ends on March 31st, 2009.


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Victims of Crime Initiative (Voted)

Start date: April 1st, 2000

End date: March 31st, 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 CSC registered victims and their support persons to attend NPB hearings).

Recipients: a) individuals; b) national, provincial, territorial, municipal, Aboriginal, community or professional organizations, societies or associations; c) Canadian educational institutions/Boards of Education; d) 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; e) private sector organizations sponsoring non-profit projects; f) Bands, Tribal Councils and self-governing First Nations who are working to provide services and assistance to victims of crime in Aboriginal communities; g) provincial, territorial, municipal and regional governments and agencies.

Expected results:

  • Increased access to services for victims;
  • increased willingness of victims to participate in the criminal justice system;
  • increased awareness and understanding among criminal justice system personnel, service providers and victims of victim issues, legislation and
  • services available; and
  • reduced financial hardship for victims.

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $850,000 $850,000 $500,000 $0
Total contributions $4,168,150 $7,958,000 $5,250,000 $0
Total Transfer payments $5,018,150 $8,808,000 $5,750,000 $0

Planned evaluations:

Case studies & final evaluation


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

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

Start date: April 1st, 1999

End date: March 31st, 2010

Description:

The overall objective of funding under the Youth Justice Fund is to encourage a fairer and more effective youth justice system.  Funding is available to help promote and implement alternative approaches to youth justice practices.  Priorities are set annually based on identified gaps and emerging federal youth justice policies and priorities.  Additional resources have been provided to the Youth Justice Fund for two new on-going priorities - Youth Crime Prevention (Guns, Gangs and Drugs) and Youth Justice Anti-Drug Treatment Component.

A variety of activities are eligible for funding support under the different components of the Youth Justice Fund.  For example:

  • training/educational activities for professionals and service providers;
  • the organization and hosting of community meetings to create awareness of youth justice activities in a community and/or build support for a community-based youth justice initiative or workshops/conferences that encourage the sharing of information on best practices and lessons learned as provide opportunities for various sectors to meet and develop cross-sectoral solutions to support them in assuming effective roles;
  • demonstration projects that test an innovative approach to delivering youth justice services at any key stage of the youth justice process and/or targeted at specific populations or issues such as reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal youth in the justice system, respond to youth in the youth justice system with mental health issues including FASD, respond to gang involved youth and violent offenders or, respond to youth with illicit substance abuse issues; and
  • some components allow for research and evaluation activities to determine whether programs/activities are effective in dealing with youth in conflict with the law and/or are relevant for other regions/jurisdictions or which synthesize the results of existing research or which contribute to a growing awareness and recognition of promising practices and models for on-going or emerging youth justice issues.

Recipients: Non-governmental organizations, youth justice stakeholders, Aboriginal organizations and provinces/territories

Expected results:

Youth Justice Fund

The overall expected result is a fairer, more effective youth justice system

Short Term and Intermediate Outcomes

  • Increased responsiveness to emerging issues
  • Increased community involvement
  • Increased collaboration and knowledge development
  • More effective rehabilitation and reintegration of young persons
  • More integrated coordinated approach

Within the Youth Justice Fund framework, the Guns, Gangs and Drugs and Anti-Drug Component (NADS) have the following expected results:

Guns, Gangs and Drugs

  • Additional or enhanced programs aimed at preventing youth involvement in guns, gangs and drugs are being developed and used by the youth justice system
  • Targeted youth presented with a choice or alternative to guns, gangs and drugs.

National Anti-Drug Strategy

  • Enhanced capacity to plan/deliver a range of treatment services & programs to targeted populations

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $453,130 $730,000 $730,000 $730,000
Total contributions $3,312,233 $4,275,000 $4,275,000 $4,275,000
Total Transfer payments $3,765,363 $5,005,000 $5,005,000 $5,005,000

Planned evaluations:

A summative evaluation is planned for 2009-2010


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

Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs

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

Start date: April 1st, 1984

End date: March 31st, 2011

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

Expected results:

The contribution agreements will support a sustainable youth justice system that is capable of innovation and supports federal youth justice priorities.


Program Activity: A1 – Justice policies, laws and programs
  Forecast Spending
2008-09
Planned Spending
2009-10
Planned Spending
2010-11
Planned Spending
2011-12
Total grants $0 $0 $0 $0
Total contributions $177,302,415 $177,302,415 $177,302,415 $177,302,415
Total Transfer payments $177,302,415 $177,302,415 $177,302,415 $177,302,415

Planned evaluations:

A summative evaluation is planned for 2009-2010