Details on Transfer Payment Programs

Table of Contents

• TPPs with total actual spending of $5 million or more.
  • Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund
  • Access to Justice Services in the Territories (being Legal Aid, Indigenous Courtwork and Public Legal Education and Information Services)
  • Canadian Family Justice Fund
  • Criminal Legal Aid
  • Drug Treatment Court Funding Program
  • Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid
  • Implementation of Official Languages Requirements under the Contraventions Act
  • Indigenous Courtwork Program
  • Indigenous Justice Program
  • Indigenous Partnership Fund
  • Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision Program
  • Justice Partnership and Innovation Program
  • Victims Fund
  • Youth Justice Services Funding Program
• TPPs with total actual spending of less than $5 million
  • European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)
  • Hague Conference on Private International Law
  • Impact of Race and Culture Assessments
  • Integrated Market Enforcement Teams Reserve Fund
  • International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)
  • Legal Advice for Complainants of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
  • Special Advocates Program
  • State-Funded Counsel Program
  • Youth Justice Fund

TPPs with total actual spending of $5 million or more

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/jsp-sjp/ol-lo/index.html

Start date: April 1, 2003

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2023-24

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Justice System Partnerships

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: The long-term goal of the Fund is an increasingly relevant, accessible and responsive Canadian justice system that is capable of offering services to Canadians in both official languages.

Objectives:

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

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Approximately $15.8 million in funding was provided to 101 projects through the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund (Support Fund) in 2024-25, the majority of which is part of the Government of Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration. These include:

• 66 projects that were funded to increase awareness within the legal community and official language minority communities about their rights and issues related to access to justice in both official languages.
• 35 projects that were funded to increase the capacity of the justice system and its stakeholders to offer justice services in both official languages.

The Support Fund also provided funding to seven provinces to support their implementation of the official languages provision of the Divorce Act.

Funding was provided to 60 organizations, five academic institutions, seven provincial governments and one territorial government. The funding was used to increase the capacity of the justice system and its stakeholders to offer justice services in both official languages and increase the availability of legal information to official language minority communities.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2026-27.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The Department undertook consultations with official language-minority community stakeholders in 2024-25. Specifically, the annual meeting of the Advisory Committee on Access to Justice in Both Official Languages was held in May 2024. Consultations with provincial and territorial partners were held through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Working Group on Access to Justice in Both Official Languages in November 2024. In addition to these formal mechanisms, the Department engaged with stakeholders, as needed, on a regular and informal basis.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The Support Fund received additional funding under the 2023-28 Action Plan and is continuing to implement these new funds as quickly as possible within existing capacity.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Access to Justice Services in the Territories (being Legal Aid, Indigenous Courtwork and Public Legal Education and Information Services)

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/access.html

Start date: April 1, 1997

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Programs: Legal Representation; Indigenous Justice; and Justice System Partnerships

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To provide consolidated federal government funding support to Canada’s three territories for access to justice services (including criminal and civil legal aid, Indigenous courtwork services, and public legal education and information) through ongoing contribution agreements that allow the territories the flexibility needed to provide these services in a challenging environment (vast distances, harsh climate, cultural and linguistic differences).

Objectives:

• Legal aid services in the territories
  • To enable the territories to provide legal aid services to economically disadvantaged and vulnerable persons involved in serious criminal, youth criminal justice and civil matters.
• Indigenous courtwork services
  • To facilitate and enhance access to justice by assisting Indigenous people involved in the criminal justice system to obtain fair, just, equitable and culturally sensitive treatment.
• Public legal education and information
  • To assist the territories in providing members of the public with the legal information they need to make informed decisions and participate effectively in the justice system.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Through this program, territorial residents were able to access justice services, such as legal aid, Indigenous courtwork services, and public legal education and information that responded to their needs and circumstances. Based on the most recent program data available submitted by Yukon and Northwest Territories, 2,045 criminal legal aid applications, as well as 682 applications for civil legal aid were approved for these territories in 2023-24. Duty counsel assistance was provided in criminal matters in Yukon and Northwest Territories 2,968 times. The data for Nunavut is not yet available. Results achieved for Indigenous courtwork services in the territories are presented under the Indigenous Courtwork Program section, in combination with those of the participating provinces.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. Access to Justice Services in the Territories will be included in the next evaluations of the Legal Aid Program (planned for completion in 2026-27), the Indigenous Courtwork Program (ICW) (planned for completion in 2027-28) and the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program (JPIP) (planned for completion in 2028-29).

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: In 2023-24, the FPT Permanent Working Group on Legal Aid (PWG) and its subcommittees held four virtual meetings, and one in-person meeting. The PWG supports the FPT Deputy Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety on matters relating to legal aid, such as policy development and funding. Ongoing consultations with the PWG also contribute to efforts aimed at improving data collection to better measure and report on results, including Gender-Based Analysis Plus impacts and outcomes.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is primarily due to an increase in federal support for the delivery of criminal legal aid services in the territories. As announced in Budget 2024, the Department received an additional $80 million in funding for criminal legal aid during the year, of which $4 million was allocated to the territories.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Canadian Family Justice Fund

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/famil/index.html

Start date: April 1, 2017

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2021-22

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Family Justice

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Facilitate access to the family justice system for families experiencing separation and divorce.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: The Department provided $15 million to provinces and territories under the activities component of the Fund to support the delivery of family justice programs and services for families undergoing separation and divorce. Additional funding under Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence continued to support six provinces in expanding the availability of government-funded supervision services relating to the exercise of parenting time between a child and parent in cases of separation and divorce. This support is particularly targeted at cases involving concerns about the safety of a child or another family member due to family violence. A call for proposals with an allocation of $1 million per year over three fiscal years was also held under the projects component of the Fund. This call for proposals resulted in funding for nine new projects set to begin in 2025-26.

Funding was also provided to four provinces and territories to begin work on implementing the official language provision of the Divorce Act.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2026-27.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Ongoing engagement occurred with provincial and territorial partners through the existing FPT forums under the Coordinating Committee of Senior Officials – Family Justice to discuss issues related to family law policy development, legislation, and the Canadian Family Justice Fund. In addition, the Department continued to share program information with applicants and recipients through communications and the Department of Justice Canada website. Information gathered from these consultations were used to adjust fund priorities and improve mechanisms to measure results.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The surplus was used to address financial pressures faced by the Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Criminal Legal Aid

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/aid-aide/index.html

Start date: August 17, 1971

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Legal Representation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

To promote fair legal proceedings for eligible persons and to promote public confidence in the justice system through federal contribution funding to the provinces.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Through their provincial legal aid plans, provinces were able to provide legal aid services in criminal matters to eligible adults and youth. Based on the most recent program data available from 2023-24, the provinces approved 258,574 full legal representation applications for criminal legal aid^{Footnote 1}. Criminal duty counsel services were provided 1,256,624 times^{Footnote 2} in 2023-24 to provincial legal aid clients.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2026-27.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The FPT Permanent Working Group on Legal Aid (PWG) and its subcommittees held four virtual meetings, and one in-person meeting. The PWG supported the FPT Deputy Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety on matters relating to legal aid, such as policy development and funding. Ongoing consultations with the PWG contributed to improving data collection for better measure and reporting on results, including Gender-Based Analysis Plus impacts and outcomes.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by an increase in federal support for the delivery of criminal legal aid services in the provinces. As announced in Budget 2024, the Department received an additional $80 million in funding for criminal legal aid during the year, of which $76 million was allocated to the provinces.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Drug Treatment Court Funding Program

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/dtc-ttt.html

Start date: April 1, 2004

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2021-22

Link to departmental result(s): The criminal justice system supports alternative ways of responding to the causes and consequences of offending.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Drug Treatment Court Funding Program (DTCFP)

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To reduce crimes committed as a result of drug dependency through court-monitored treatment and community service support for non-violent offenders with problematic substance use.

Objectives:

• To promote and strengthen the use of alternatives to incarceration with a particular focus on vulnerable populations;
• To support offenders in addressing their cycle of addiction and criminal behavior as a means of reducing criminal recidivism; and
• To collect information and data on the effectiveness of Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) in order to promote best practices and the continuing refinement of approaches.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: In 2024-2025, DTCFP provided funding to the following eight provinces and two territories: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Yukon, and Northwest Territories. This funding supported the operation of 22 drug treatment courts across Canada and 45 Therapeutic Justice Programs in Quebec, which offered eligible offenders with problematic substance use the opportunity to complete a court monitored drug treatment program as an alternative to incarceration. Based on the most recent program data available, 255 new participants were admitted into federally funded drug treatment courts, resulting in more than 446 active participants throughout the 2024-2025 fiscal year. In addition, there were 622 active participants that went through Therapeutic Justice Programs in Quebec during the same period.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2027-28.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The program consulted with recipients through the DTCFP’s FPT Working Group. This Working Group contributes to the design, delivery, and evaluation of the DTCFP by identifying emerging issues and solutions for issues affecting DTC effectiveness, and sharing lessons learned and best practices in order to improve DTCs across Canada. The DTCFP held two meetings of its FPT Working Group in 2024-2025. Members of the DTCFP working group also had the opportunity to attend two webinars organized by the Opioid Harms Response Community: Building trust: the role of community engagement and Building cross-sectoral partnerships. The Program also interacted with the working group through the sharing of various emails related to substance use, such as the regular updates from the Opioid Harms Response Community that include links to studies, workshops, conferences, and resource materials.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

$500,000 was transferred to the Victims Fund for the Nunavut Therapeutic Justice Program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/aid-aide/index.html

Start date: April 1, 2001

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Legal Representation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

To promote access to justice for economically disadvantaged immigrants and refugees, and to contribute to a fair and efficient asylum system.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Immigration and refugee legal aid was provided in the following eight provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador. Legal aid service providers were able to maintain the delivery of legal aid services for eligible persons in immigration and refugee matters throughout 2024-25. Based on the most recent program data available, 78,872 legal aid certificates^{Footnote 3} were provided for immigration and refugee legal aid in the eight provinces where federal funding was provided in 2023-24.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2026-27.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The FPT Permanent Working Group on Legal Aid (PWG) and its sub-committees held four virtual meetings and one in-person meeting in 2024-25. Immigration and refugee legal aid was included in these discussions. Ongoing consultations with the PWG contributed to improving data collection for better measuring and reporting on results, including Gender-Based Analysis Plus impacts and outcomes.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by an increase in federal support for immigration and refugee legal aid services. The Department received $71.6 million in additional funding during the year, as announced in Budget 2024. Since the demand for these services was higher than expected, the Department allocated an additional $17.5 million in funds from other programs, namely from the Legal Advice for Complainants of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace program, the Canadian Family Justice Fund, the Contraventions Act Fund, the Impact of Race and Culture Assessments program, the State-Funded Counsel Program and the Integrated Market Enforcement Teams Reserve Fund.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Implementation of Official Languages Requirements under the Contraventions Act

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/contraventions.html

Start date: April 1, 2002

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2012-13

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Contraventions Regime

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

To support provincial, territorial and municipal partners in ensuring the provision of judicial and extrajudicial services in both official languages in respect of proceedings instituted under the Contraventions Act.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Through the Contraventions Act Fund, the Department continued to provide funding to provinces and municipalities where the Contraventions Act Regime is implemented so they can undertake measures that ensure language rights are respected in relation to the administration and enforcement of federal contraventions.

The Department provided funding to six provinces (British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador) and one municipality (Mississauga) where there are no provincial obligations to fulfil the offenders’ official language rights. This enabled the provision of judicial and extra-judicial services in the official language of choice of the accused where mandated.

Performance Measure:

• Based on reporting received to date, there were no reported complaints with respect to a lack of judicial and extra-judicial services in the official language of choice.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2025-26.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Throughout the year, the Department actively engaged with its provincial, territorial and municipal partners on an as needed basis, in alignment with the mandate of the Contraventions Act Sub-Working Group. These engagements were facilitated through information sharing, discussions and participation in the FPT Working Group on Access to Justice in Both Official Languages meeting, which was held in March 2023.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by the fact that some provinces and territories were not yet ready to implement the Contraventions Act Regime and therefore did not incur expenditures as anticipated. The negotiations and progress depend largely on the priorities, and therefore capacity, of the provinces and territories. The funds will be completely committed once all jurisdictions have signed agreements. Some of the unused funds were reallocated internally to address funding pressures under the Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid Program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Indigenous Courtwork Program

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/acp-apc/index.html

Start date: April 1, 1978

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2024-25

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Indigenous Justice

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

To facilitate and enhance access to justice for Indigenous people involved in the criminal justice system (whether as accused persons, victims, witnesses or family members) by providing fair, just, equitable and culturally relevant treatment.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: ICW clients received timely and accurate information on court procedures, rights and responsibilities, legal resources, and diversion and, as well as, relating to access to community justice options including restorative justice programs and community services.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2027-28.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Over the past year, engagement took place through the FPT Working Group and the Tripartite Working Group on the ICW. These collaborative working groups brought together Indigenous Courtworkers, service delivery directors, and federal, provincial and territorial partners to strengthen collaboration and better meet the needs of Indigenous clients and communities. The ICW also supported training and engagement sessions to enhance service delivery. Courtwork directors and front-line workers contributed to shaping policy and program decisions. Additionally, the program engaged directly with provincial and territorial partners on cost-shared funding agreements, and with Indigenous organizations regarding bi-lateral funding agreements. Regular communications with funding recipients supported day-to-day operations, including funding approvals, workplans, budgets and payments.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending was primarily due to renewed federal investments aimed at improving access to justice for Indigenous people and addressing systemic barriers in the justice system, as announced in Budget 2024. During the year, the Department received an additional $3 million in funding for this initiative under the ICW.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Indigenous Justice Program

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/acf-fca/ajs-sja/index.html

Start date: 1991-92 as the Aboriginal Justice Initiative

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2024-25

Link to departmental result(s): The criminal justice system supports alternative ways of responding to the causes and consequences of offending.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Indigenous Justice

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: The Indigenous Justice Program (IJP) supports Indigenous community-based justice programs that offer alternatives to mainstream justice processes in appropriate circumstances.

Objectives:

• To assist Indigenous people in assuming greater responsibility for the administration of justice in their communities;
• To reflect and include Indigenous values within the justice system; and
• To contribute to a decrease in the rate of victimization, crime and incarceration among Indigenous people in communities with community-based justice funded programs.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: In 2024-25, the IJP supported 211 Indigenous community-based justice programs that served approximately 9,000 clients across 650 urban, rural, and northern communities, both on and off reserve. Each program was tailored to reflect the unique justice priorities, cultures and values of the communities in which they are situated.

IJP-supported programs delivered activities at various points of the justice continuum, including prevention, diversion and reintegration. Thirty-four programs supported civil and family mediation services, for community members in conflict, while 53 programs provided post-sentence Gladue aftercare, helping individuals who have Gladue factors follow their sentence conditions and implement Gladue report and or Healing Plan recommendations. As demonstrated in prior evaluations, these investments contribute to reduced rates of recidivism, produce meaningful cost-savings for the criminal justice system and provide transformational changes in the lives of participants. Approximately 90% of IJP participants complete their program^{Footnote 4}.

In 2024, the IJP provided just under $800K in additional funding to 34 Indigenous community justice programs to increase their capacity to deliver services.

Additionally, the IJP also supported 22 projects through a $5.5 million investment over three years under the Call to Action 50 initiative. These projects enabled Indigenous governments, communities, organizations and academic institutions to revitalize Indigenous laws and legal traditions.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: The Department undertook one external financial audit on an IJP recipient in 2023-24, which was completed in 2024-25 by the auditor. There were minor findings, resulting in a pending surplus to be recovered in 2025-26.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2027-28.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The IJP regularly engages with recipients through day-to-day operations, including site visits, emails, and phone calls. In 2024-2025, the IJP supported four in-person regional gatherings, bringing together funded programs, justice stakeholders and federal, provincial and territorial partners. The gatherings were aimed at strengthening relationships with recipients, gathering information to support Government priorities and further knowledge exchange and training for funded recipients. The IJP continued to collaborate with recipients and provincial and territorial funders to help guide the implementation of Gladue aftercare and civil and family mediation services. Justice officials met virtually with the federal, provincial and territorial working group three times during the fiscal year. The IJP supports engagement with Indigenous partners through the Indigenous Engagement Fund on the co-development of a comprehensive Indigenous Justice Strategy, released in March 2025, to address the overrepresentation and systemic discrimination of Indigenous peoples in the Canadian justice system. In 2024-2025, the IJP supported 17 organizations to participate in the co-development of the Indigenous Justice Strategy.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is mostly explained by renewed federal investments to continue improving access to justice for Indigenous People and addressing systemic barriers in the justice system, and to continue supporting the development and early implementation of the Indigenous Justice Strategy, as announced in Budget 2024. The Department received additional funding of $12.8 million for these initiatives under the Indigenous Justice Program during the year.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Indigenous Partnership Fund

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/ipf-fpa/index.html

Start date: April 1, 2023

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022–23

Link to departmental result(s): Justice Canada laws and policies abide by the rule of law and promote respect for rights and a fair, accessible and relevant legal framework in Canada.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Indigenous Justice

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

To contribute to the Department’s efforts to renew its relationship with Indigenous peoples by enabling greater collaboration with Indigenous governments and organizations on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration Act on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration Act), in collaboration with other government departments.

Results achieved: In 2024-25, the Indigenous Partnership Fund (IPF) had 126 active funding agreements with Indigenous governments and organizations to support ongoing consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), the UN Declaration Act and measures included in the UN Declaration Act Action Plan.

A total of $11.5 million was allocated to Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) national and regional representative organizations, as well as individual First Nations, Modern Treaty and self-governing partners, national Indigenous women’s, youth and urban and off-reserve organizations, Métis governments and Tribal Councils to support the development and maintenance of their ongoing core capacity to participate in UN Declaration Act and Action Plan implementation.

IPF grant and contribution recipients engaged in a broad scope of project activities funded under the IPF and supported consultation and cooperation between the Government of Canada and Indigenous partners on (1) measures to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the UN Declaration; (2) implementation of an action plan to achieve the objectives of the UN Declaration; and (3) development of annual reports on progress. IPF recipients have developed and submitted workplans and project summary reports detailing their projects’ results and achievements accomplished throughout the fiscal year.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: New program. The first evaluation is planned for 2027-28.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: In 2024-25, engagement was conducted with successful grant and contribution recipients. The IPF regularly engages with recipients through day-to-day operations regarding funding approval, recipients’ goals, objectives and workplans, budgets and payments.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

Variance is attributable to the reprofile of unused 2023-24 funds into 2024-25.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision Program

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/intens.html

Start date: April 1, 2002

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2024-25

Link to departmental result(s): The criminal justice system supports alternative ways of responding to the causes and consequences of offending.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Youth Justice

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To provide federal funding to all provinces and territories to ensure that they have the capacity required to carry out assessments and provide therapeutic programs and services to youth convicted of serious violent offences and who are suffering from mental health issues.

Objectives: To financially assist the provinces and territories in providing the specialized services required for the implementation of the Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS) sentence, pursuant to paragraph 42(2)(r) and subsection 42(7) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and other sentencing options applicable under the Act to serious violent youth offenders with mental health issues.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Through the IRCS program, provinces and territories delivered youth justice programs and services that target young persons in conflict with the law. During 2024-25, 34 new IRCS orders were issued by the courts and became eligible for federal funding for a total of 94 active IRCS cases at the end of the fiscal year. In addition, four new exceptional cases were approved for funding for a total of eight active exceptional cases at the end of the fiscal year. In 2024-25, 100% of identified, eligible IRCS Program cases (IRCS orders and exceptional cases) received specialized treatment. For reporting purposes, an IRCS case is considered active and therefore counted as part of the total number of cases if its sentence was in effect for at least one day or more in the fiscal year in question. In 2024-25 there were 131 active cases.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation of the Youth Justice Initiative, in which the IRCS is a component, is planned for completion in 2025-26.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Recipients were engaged through the FPT Working Group on Youth Justice Cost Sharing and Programs, which serves as a forum for ongoing monitoring and discussion of issues concerning youth justice programming. These meetings contributed to the design, delivery and evaluation of the IRCS by identifying emerging issues and sharing best practices in order to improve youth justice services across Canada. In 2024-25, the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group on Youth Justice Cost Sharing and Programs held two virtual meetings and one in-person meeting in St. Johns Newfoundland and Labrador.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by greater demand for IRCS Program funding. The Department allocated funds from other programs to cover the demand, namely from the State-Funded Counsel Program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Justice Partnership and Innovation Program

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/jsp-sjp/jpip-pjpi.html

Start date: April 1, 1996

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2021-22 (Contributions) / 2024-25 (Grants)

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Justice System Partnerships

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: The long-term goal of the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program (JPIP) is to contribute to increasing access to the Canadian justice system and strengthening the Canadian legal framework.

Objectives:

• To promote and encourage involvement in the identification of emerging trends, issues and/or gaps and possible responses with respect to the justice system;
• To strengthen the justice system’s response to family violence and to promote public awareness of and involvement in the response to family violence; and
• To build knowledge, awareness and understanding among justice stakeholders and/or the public on justice issues and other emerging justice related issues.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: In 2024-25, the following was achieved by JPIP:

• Thirty projects continued to receive funding to provide legal services and supports to racialized communities across Canada. Projects supported diverse racialized and Indigenous communities, with access to culturally appropriate legal education and information, and free legal advice and supports.
• Eighteen projects continued to receive funding to provide independent legal advice/representation for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV).
• Eighteen projects continued to receive funding to provide additional support for victims of IPV involved in the family justice system. Projects supported victims of IPV to navigate and access the family justice system and helped improve how the family justice system responds to IPV.
• Community Justice Centre (CJC) pilots continued to be supported in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, to test innovative approaches for moving justice out of the traditional courtroom and into a community setting to address the root causes of crime, break the cycle of offending, and improve community well-being. 2024-25 marked the first year of a CJC pilot, delivered through the Manitoba Métis Federation, to provide Red River Métis citizens with wraparound and interdisciplinary supports as they navigate the criminal justice system.
• Ten provincially designated public legal education and information (PLEI) organizations continued to be supported to enhance their capacity to build knowledge, awareness and understanding of justice issues.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. Evaluations of two components of JPIP (Gender-Based Violence Initiatives; Community Justice Centres) are planned for completion in 2025-26, and an evaluation of JPIP is planned for completion in 2028-29.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Recipient meetings were held for multiple funding initiatives including the Independent Legal Advice/Representation for victims of IPV, Legal Services and Supports for Racialized Communities, and with provincially designated PLEI organizations. These meetings provided an opportunity for funding recipients such as community organizations, Indigenous organizations, and provinces and territories to share project updates, discuss challenges or successes within their projects, and network with others working on similar issues. In 2024-25, as part of the CJCs initiative, three meetings were held with the ad hoc committee on CJCs whose membership includes representation from provincial and territorial governments and Indigenous organizations. The committee provided a forum for those working on CJCs to share knowledge, challenges and successes. It also provided an opportunity to obtain feedback on an ongoing basis on the development and implementation of CJC pilots and community engagement sessions.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by renewed federal investments to provide legal support and awareness to address workplace sexual harassment and new federal investments to support access to legal information and advice services to tenants facing legal housing matters, as announced in Budget 2024. Under these initiatives, the Department received funding of $8 million for JPIP during the year. Unused funds were reallocated internally to address funding pressures, namely under the Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid Program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Victims Fund

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/cj-jp/fund-fond/index.html

Start date: Victims of Crime Initiative (VCI) March 2000, and Federal Victims Strategy (FVS) April 1, 2007

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2024-25 (Contributions) / 2016-17 (Grants)

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Victims of Crime

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: The Victims Fund is a component of the Federal Victims Strategy (FVS), which aims to give victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice and federal corrections systems. The FVS, including the Victims Fund, supports the Department’s mandate to ensure that Canada is a just and law-abiding society with a fair, relevant and accessible Canadian justice system.

Objectives:

• To enhance victim assistance programs across Canada;
• To promote access to justice and participation in the justice system and the development of laws, policies and programs;
• To promote the implementation of principles, guidelines and laws designed to address the needs of victims of crime and articulate their role in the criminal justice system;
• To contribute to increased knowledge and awareness of the impact of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs and legislation; and
• To promote, encourage and/or enhance governmental and non-governmental organizations’ involvement in the identification of victim needs and gaps in services and in the development and delivery of programs, services and assistance to victims, including capacity-building within non-governmental organizations.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: In 2024-25, the following was achieved by the Victims Fund:

• In addition to the multi-year contribution agreements in place with 38 Child Advocacy Centres (CACs), grant funding was provided to 28 CACs to meet the growing needs of child and youth victims
• In total, nine non-governmental organisations and legal clinics, in addition to all 13 jurisdictions, have accessed funding to provide Independent Legal Advice and Representation (ILA/ILR) for victims and survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
• One hundred and thirty-nine registered victims received financial assistance to attend Parole Board of Canada hearings.
• One hundred and twenty-six Canadians victimized abroad received financial assistance.
• One hundred and eighty-six organizations received funding for 2024 Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.
• All 13 provincial and territorial government Family Information Liaison Units (FILUs) received multi-year funding (2025-2030).
• Sixteen organizations continued to receive funding under the Victims Fund’s Human Trafficking (HT) initiative for projects that support victims of human trafficking.
• Eighteen organizations received funding under the Supporting Indigenous Victims of Crime (SIVC) initiative.
• Twenty-seven organizations received funding under the Sexual Assault (SA) initiative and initiatives that promote victim-centred restorative justice.
• Thirty-two organizations received funding under the Community Supports and Healing for Families (CSHF) initiative.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for completion in 2025-26.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The Department engaged with provincial and territorial partners, as well as non-governmental stakeholders from a variety of fields, on an ongoing basis to discuss issues related to policy development, legislation and the Victims Fund. The Victims Fund engaged with applicants and recipients through ongoing open processes to support a variety of communities of victims, such as the annual Victims and Survivors of Crime Week, families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, victims of sexual offences and human trafficking, and Child Advocacy Centres. Regular outreach and communications activities of the Policy Center for Victim Issues include regular meetings held with governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGO) partners; updates to its website and newsletters; subject-specific knowledge exchanges, Webex sessions, webinars and symposia; development of PLEI fact sheets; and continued engagement of stakeholders in ongoing issues of mutual interest.

In May 2024, Justice Canada accepted funding applications for projects aimed at supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence, as well as initiatives that promote victim-centred approaches to restorative justice. The objective related to sexual violence was to help address gender-based violence by supporting activities that enhance the criminal justice system’s response to victims and survivors of sexual assault, improve their access to justice, increase their confidence in the justice system, and enhance victim services. The objective related to restorative justice was to give victims of crime greater voice and choice within the criminal justice system, and to support better outcomes by increasing access to trauma-informed, victim-centred restorative justice processes. Twenty-seven applications were approved for funding.

A Call for proposals was launched on July 29, 2024, for the SIVC initiative. The goal of the initiative is to increase Indigenous-led, culturally safe, survivor-centred services and supports at the community level for Indigenous people who are victims and survivors of crime. Eighteen organizations were approved for funding.

A Call for proposals was also launched on October 7, 2024, to renew multi-year funding for provincial and territorial FILUs to provide services for families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, two-spirit people and men and boys. Funding is intended to strengthen the FILUs’ capacity to meet the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis families across Canada, to increase awareness among family members and justice agencies about FILU services, and to create and build new partnerships with government and community agencies to address identified gaps in services. All 13 provincial and territorial FILUs received multi-year funding for 2025-2030.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

Funding related to victims of hate-motivated crime was received late in the fiscal year. The majority of that funding was intended for provinces and territories. Communication with six jurisdictions was affected due to several provincial and territorial elections (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Ontario). Funding for SIVC was being implemented for the first time. It was launched after receiving guidance from an advisory committee so that it could be done in a culturally informed way, which affected timelines.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Youth Justice Services Funding Program

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/yjsfp-pfsjj.html

Start date: April 2, 1984

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2021-22

Link to departmental result(s): The criminal justice system supports alternative ways of responding to the causes and consequences of offending.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Youth Justice

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To support the policy directions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act by financially assisting the provinces and territories in their provision of a range of youth justice services and programs that are consistent with federal policy objectives.

Objectives:

• To support and promote an appropriate range of programs and services that encourage accountability measures for unlawful behaviour that are proportionate and timely;
• To encourage the effective rehabilitation and reintegration of young persons into their communities;
• To target the formal court process for the most serious offences; and
• To target detention and custody for the most serious offences.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Through the Youth Justice Services Funding Program (YJSFP), the Department supported provinces and territories in providing a range of youth justice programs and services that target young persons in conflict with the law, such as:

• Diversion/extrajudicial measures and extrajudicial sanctions programs
• Rehabilitative and reintegration services
• Judicial interim release programs
• Reports and assessments
• Culturally safe programming
• Intensive support and supervision and attendance programs
• Conferencing and other community-based sanctions

According to recently published data by Statistics Canada (2022-23), 92% of youth court cases received a non-custodial (community-based) sentence^{Footnote 5}. This is 7% above the 85% target set for this indicator. This indicator allows an assessment of the extent to which community-based youth justice services and programs are being promoted and given priority, thus allowing jurisdictions to minimize their use and reliance on custody.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation of the Youth Justice Initiative, of which the YJSFP is a component, is planned for completion in 2025-26.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Recipients are engaged through the FPT Working Group on Youth Justice Cost Sharing and Programs, which serves as a forum for ongoing monitoring and discussions of issues concerning youth justice programming. These meetings contribute to the design, delivery and evaluation of the YJSFP by identifying emerging issues and sharing best practices in order to improve youth justice services across Canada. In 2024-25, the FPT Working Group on Youth Justice Cost Sharing and Programs held two virtual meetings and one in-person meeting in St. Johns Newfoundland and Labrador.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

Not applicable.

TPPs with total actual spending of less than $5 million

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)

Hyperlink: https://www.venice.coe.int/

Start date: April 1, 2019

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Assessed Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2021-22

Link to departmental result(s): Justice Canada laws and policies abide by the rule of law and promote respect for rights and a fair, accessible and relevant framework in Canada.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Justice System Partnerships

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To enable Canada to meet its financial obligations and fulfil its international policy objectives related to democracy and the rule of law by participating in the work of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission).

Objective: To support the Venice Commission’s mandate of assisting and advising individual countries in constitutional matters in order to improve the functioning of democratic institutions and the protection of human rights.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Membership was maintained, giving Canada a venue to promote Canadian legal interests internationally.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this assessed contribution in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this assessed contribution in 2024-25. It will be included in the Evaluation of the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, planned for completion in 2028-29.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The Department of Justice Canada deals directly with the European Commission for Democracy through Law, the intended recipient for this assessed contribution.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by exchange rate differences between Euro and Canadian dollars.

Hague Conference on Private International Law

Hyperlink: https://www.hcch.net/

Start date: June 1, 2007

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Assessed Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2021-22

Link to departmental result(s): Justice Canada laws and policies abide by the rule of law and promote respect for rights and a fair, accessible and relevant framework in Canada.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Justice System Partnerships

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To enable Canada to meet its financial obligations and fulfill its international policy objectives related to private law by participating in the work of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

Objective: To support the work of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the progressive unification of the rules of private international law, including creating and assisting in the implementation of multilateral conventions that promote the harmonisation of the rules and principles of private international law (or conflict of laws).

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Membership was maintained, giving Canada a venue to promote Canadian legal interests internationally.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this assessed contribution in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this assessed contribution in 2024-25. It will be included in the next Evaluation of Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, planned for completion in 2028-29.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The Department of Justice Canada deals directly with the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the intended recipient for this assessed contribution.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by exchange rate differences between Euro and Canadian dollars.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Impact of Race and Culture Assessments

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/aid-aide/supporting-soutien.html

Start date: April 1, 2021

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Legal Representation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To support the implementation of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs) in all provinces and territories, and to help eliminate systemic barriers in the criminal justice system for Black and other racialized individuals by helping courts consider the impact of race and cultural heritage on a racialized offender’s life trajectory during sentencing in criminal matters.

Objective: To promote fair legal proceedings for eligible persons and to promote public confidence in the justice system through federal contribution funding.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: In 2024-2025, the Department entered into contribution agreements with two additional jurisdictions–Yukon and New Brunswick–to support the preparation of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments. This expands the existing group of jurisdictions with agreements, which includes British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, bringing the total number to seven. In addition to ongoing training for IRCA writers in both French and in English, and the continuing professional development education for judges, the Department also funded specialized IRCA writer training tailored to the needs of Western Canada.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. This program will be included in the Evaluation of the Legal Aid Program, planned for completion in 2026-27.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Ongoing meetings with funding recipients were held throughout 2024-25 to monitor funding and reporting activities.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by the expansion of the use of IRCAs for Black and other racialized Canadians. The Department received additional funding of $1.6 million during the year, as announced in Budget 2024. Unused funds were reallocated internally to address funding pressures, namely under the Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid Program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Integrated Market Enforcement Teams Reserve Fund

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/integ.html

Start date: April 1, 2004

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2008-09

Link to departmental result(s): Justice Canada laws and policies abide by the rule of law and promote respect for rights and a fair, accessible and relevant framework in Canada.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Legal Representation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To effectively enforce the law against serious criminal capital market fraud offences in Canada, and ultimately to contribute to improved Canadian and international investor confidence in the integrity of Canada’s capital markets.

Objective: To assist provincial Attorneys General to carry out capital market crime prosecutions by defraying extraordinary costs arising from Integrated Market Enforcement Teams (IMET) investigations.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: While no IMET applications were received in 2024-25, the program supported effective law enforcement for serious criminal capital market fraud offences in Canada by virtue of making funds available to provincial Attorneys General to try capital market criminal cases involving extraordinary expenses.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The last evaluation was completed in 2016-17.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: With the assistance of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, provincial prosecutors were contacted on a regular basis to ensure that they were aware of the availability of the IMET Reserve Fund.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

No funding applications were submitted in 2024-25 for the IMET Reserve Fund. As a demand driven program, funding is expended only when qualifying white-collar crime prosecutions are undertaken by provinces. The Department does not have control if or when such prosecutions are undertaken. The unused funds were reallocated internally to address funding pressures under the Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid Program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)

Hyperlink: https://www.unidroit.org/

Start date: June 1, 2007

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Assessed Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2021-22

Link to departmental result(s): Justice Canada laws and policies abide by the rule of law and promote respect for rights and a fair, accessible and relevant framework in Canada.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Justice System Partnership

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To enable Canada to meet its financial obligations and fulfil its international policy objectives related to private law by participating in the work of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT).

Objective: To support UNIDROIT’s mandate to study the needs and methods for modernizing, harmonizing and coordinating private, and in particular commercial, law as between States and groups of States and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives.

There are no repayable contributions

Results achieved: Membership was maintained, giving Canada a venue to promote Canadian legal interests internationally.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this assessed contribution in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this assessed contribution in 2024-25. It will be included in the next Evaluation of Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, planned for completion in 2028-29.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: The Department of Justice Canada deals directly with the UNIDROIT, the intended recipient for this assessed contribution.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by exchange rate differences between Euro and Canadian dollars.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Legal Advice for Complainants of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/harassment-harcelement.html

Start date: April 1, 2019

End date: March 31, 2027

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Legal Representation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To promote harassment-free workplaces by providing complainants of workplace sexual harassment with access to legal support. This component of the Legal Aid Program works in collaboration with the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program to better inform workers, particularly those most vulnerable, about their rights and how they can access help if they have been harassed in the workplace.

Objective: To increase public understanding, participation, confidence and trust in the justice system by informing Canadians of their rights in relation to sexual harassment in the workplace.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: The Department provided funding to 12 organizations over three years (2024-2027) to support access to legal information and advice, particularly for vulnerable populations and those who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, regardless of their economic status.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. In line with the current approved Departmental Evaluation Plan, this initiative is not scheduled for evaluation due to the short-term nature of its funding (three years beginning in 2024–25) and the low evaluation need, as a comprehensive evaluation was recently completed in September 2023.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Ongoing communication with funded organizations covered a range of topics, including financial and activity reporting to support effective monitoring and oversight, such as interim activity progress reporting, and interim/final payment requests.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by renewed federal investments to provide legal support and awareness to address workplace sexual harassment, as announced in Budget 2024. Under this initiative, the Department received $5 million in funding for this program during the year. Unused funds were reallocated internally to address funding pressures, namely under the Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid Program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Special Advocates Program

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/jsp-sjp/sa-es.html

Start date: February 14, 2008

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2023-24

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Legal Representation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To support the Minister of Justice responsibilities in Division 9 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and to contribute to a fair process through the use of special advocates.

Objective: The use of special advocates is intended to strike a balance between the protection of rights and the need to prevent the disclosure of classified information. Special advocates are top-secret, security-cleared, private lawyers who are independent of government and who protect the interests of a permanent resident or foreign national who is subject to a security certificate or other proceedings under the IRPA.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: There was one new application for a special advocate and four new special advocates were trained in 2024-25. The program continued to support the responsibilities of the Minister of Justice under Division 9 of the IRPA) by virtue of its availability to respond to such orders.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation is planned for 2025-26 (evaluated under Division 9 of the IRPA, led by Public Safety Canada)

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: Not applicable. Special advocates are appointed from a set list when security certificates are issued.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The Special Advocates Program is a demand driven program. Funding is expended only when special advocates are ordered by the Federal Court. The Department does not have control if or when such an order will be made.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: State-Funded Counsel Program

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/gov-gouv/aid-aide/index.html

Start date: April 1, 2003

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2016-17

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Legal Representation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: Provide funding to the provinces and territories, or their legal aid delivery entities, to offer funded counsel for cases concerning national security and federal proceedings involving the Attorney General of Canada.

Objectives:

• To ensure that counsel is provided to economically disadvantaged accused/named individuals in proceedings brought by the federal Crown;
• To ensure the right to a fair hearing to accused/named individuals in cases involving national security and other federal proceedings; and
• To ensure that cases are not stayed due to lack of counsel.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: Throughout 2024-25, recipients maintained their capacity to provide state-funded counsel to eligible persons in cases involving national security, and in cases involving court orders in federal prosecutions. In 2024-25, there were no stays (proceedings stopped or suspended by court ruling) due to the lack of funded counsel.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. It will be included in the next evaluation of the Legal Aid Program, planned for completion in 2026-27.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: In 2024-25, the FPT Permanent Working Group on Legal Aid (PWG) and its subcommittees held four virtual meetings and one in-person meeting. The PWG supported the FPT Deputy Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety on matters relating to legal aid, such as policy development and funding. Ongoing consultations with the PWG also contributed to efforts aimed at improving data collection to better measure and report on results, including Gender Based Analysis Plus impacts and outcomes.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual and planned spending is explained by demand that fluctuates in response to court orders and national security proceedings. Most of the unused funds were reallocated internally to other programs to address funding pressures, namely the IRCS Program and the Immigration and Refugee Legal Aid Program.

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Youth Justice Fund

Hyperlink: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/f_13.html

Start date: April 1, 1999

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions

Type of appropriation: Voted through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2009-10

Link to departmental result(s): Canadians in contact with the justice system have access to appropriate services enabling a fair, timely and accessible justice system.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Core Responsibility: Justice System Support, Program: Youth Justice

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Purpose: To encourage a fair and more effective youth justice system, respond to emerging issues and enable greater citizen/community participation in the youth justice system.

Objectives:

• Establish special measures for violent offenders;
• Improve the system’s ability to rehabilitate and reintegrate young offenders;
• Increase the use of measures outside the formal court process, that are often more effective in addressing some types of less serious offending;
• Establish a more targeted approach to the use of custody for young people; and
• Increase the use of community-based sentences for less serious offences.

There are no repayable contributions.

Results achieved: The Youth Justice Fund (YJF) supported the development, implementation, and evaluation of pilot projects that provide programming and services for youth in conflict with the law. It supported professional development activities, such as training and conferences, for justice professionals and youth service providers.

New and enhanced diversion, rehabilitative and reintegration programs were available to youth involved in the criminal justice system as a result of the 24 active multi-year pilot projects supported through the YJF in 2024-2025. These initiatives contributed to a more responsive youth justice system.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audits were completed for this program in 2024-25.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluations were completed for this program in 2024-25. The next evaluation of the Youth Justice Initiative, in which the YJF is a component, is planned for completion in 2025-26.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: YJF recipients are engaged on an ongoing basis. For example, youth justice fund recipients such as the St. Lawrence Youth Association, Calgary John Howard Society and PLEA Community Services of BC are active members of the National Youth Justice Network. Through this network (which receives funding under the YJF), organizations collaborate to strengthen youth-centred justice services in Canada through discussion of common issues, advocacy, and information sharing on best/promising practices and research.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The YJF lapse can be explained by two factors (i) the early termination of one project in January 2025, which freed up some funding, and (ii) the unused portion of a small budget surplus that had purposefully been set aside to offset the forecasted deficit of the IRCS Program, whose demand is driven by court orders. The budget deficit of the IRCS program ended up being slightly smaller than anticipated ($0.2 million), so not all of the surplus funds set aside were ultimately used.