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Meeting/Invitations

Swearing-in Ceremony of Judges
(Honourable Justice Choi & Honourable Justice Young)

Issue

This note is to inform you of an invitation to a judicial swearing-in ceremony.

Background

Following judicial appointments to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, an invitation has been received requesting the presence of a speaker to the swearing-in ceremony of the Honourable Madam Justice Grace Choi and the Honourable Madam Justice Barbara M. Young, to be held in Vancouver on November 10, 2015.

It is common practice, upon availability, for the Minister of Justice or a ministerial official from their office to attend judicial swearing-in ceremonies. Should the Minister or a ministerial official be unable to attend, the Ministerial Liaison Unit (MLU) works in partnership with the appropriate regional office to find a senior departmental official to participate on the Minister's behalf. In the unusual circumstance that no representative is available, a congratulatory letter is prepared and signed by the Minister.

The MLU is responsible for the coordination of swearing-in ceremony invitations. The MLU has requested the preparation of speaking notes for this ceremony. Speaking notes will be submitted to your office for approval.

Recommended Option

It is recommended that you or a ministerial official participate in this swearing-in ceremony. Should you or a ministerial official be unable to attend, Mr. Bill Basran, Regional Director General for British Columbia, would be available to speak on your behalf.

Annual Meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers

Issue

Your attendance is requested for the annual meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety,     [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.13(1), s.14, s.21(1)(a), s.21(1)(b)]     

Background

     [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.13(1), s.14, s.21(1)(a), s.21(1)(b)]     

Recommended Action

     [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.13(1), s.14, s.21(1)(a), s.21(1)(b)]     

Canada-United States Cross-Border Crime Forum

Issue

Your attendance is requested at the Canada-United States (US) Cross-Border Crime Forum (CBCF) ministerial meeting.

Background

The next CBCF ministerial meeting, which will be hosted by the US Secretary of Homeland Security, is expected to take place in January or February 2016 in Washington, District of Columbia.

Created in 1997, the CBCF tackles a wide variety of transnational crime problems involving numerous jurisdictions from each country, such as smuggling, organized crime, mass marketing fraud, cybercrime, terrorism, and other cross-border issues.      [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.15(1)]     

Historically, the CBCF was a joint effort of Public Safety Canada, Justice Canada, and the US Department of Justice. In 2010, the US Department of Homeland Security joined as a partner. In its present form, it is co-chaired on the US side by the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security and on the Canadian side by the ministers of Public Safety Canada and Justice Canada. Since the establishment of the CBCF, ministerial meetings have been held regularly with the location rotating between Canada and the US.

The evolving agenda and work plan of the CBCF is advanced by a steering committee comprised of one high-level official from the US Department of Justice, the US Department of Homeland Security, Justice Canada, and Public Safety Canada. Justice Canada is represented on the steering committee by the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy Sector. This role as Canadian
co-chair of the steering committee is supported by the Criminal Law Policy Section, which has primary responsibility within Justice Canada for liaising with the Public Safety CBCF Secretariat on issues related to the CBCF ministerial. In keeping with longstanding practice, Canada would hold a steering committee meeting in advance of the CBCF ministerial meeting to finalize the agenda.

The last CBCF ministerial meeting took place in Ottawa, Ontario in March 2012.      [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.15(1)]     

     [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.15(1)]     

Recommended Action

Your attendance at the CBCF ministerial meeting in January or February 2016 is recommended. The CBCF is an important tool for advancing the efforts of Canadian and US law enforcement and prosecution officials to battle transnational crime impacting both countries. The CBCF ministerial meeting is characterized by discussions with your US counterparts and provides an excellent opportunity for relationship building.

Quintet of Attorneys Gneral

Issue

An annual meeting of the attorneys general of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States will take place in Washington, District of Columbia in February 2016. The Quintet of Attorneys General meeting is a one or two-day meeting that addresses legal matters of common concern, such as terrorism and cybercrime.

Background

The inaugural meeting of the Quintet of Attorneys General was held in November 2009 in London, England. Subsequent meetings have been held in Washington, District of Columbia (April 2010), Sydney, Australia (July 2011), Ottawa, Canada (June 2012), Auckland, New Zealand (May 2013), and London, England (2014).

The 2015 Quintet was deferred to early 2016 given that there were several new attorneys general. The precise date for the meeting has not yet been set, but it is expected to be held in February 2016 in Washington, District of Columbia.

The meeting is typically attended by each country's attorney general and a small number of senior officials. Consequently, the Quintet is an opportunity for candid discussion among counterparts.

There is no secretariat to support the meeting; each year, the host country is responsible for developing the agenda and coordinating the meeting. Recent Quintet meetings have focused on terrorism, foreign terrorist fighters, intelligence and evidence, and cybercrime.      [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.15(1), s.21(1)(a), s.21(1)(b)]     

     [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.15(1), s.21(1)(a), s.21(1)(b)]     

Recommended Action

Your attendance will be required at this ministerial meeting, which is expected to be held in February 2016. The Quintet meeting is characterized by candid discussions with your counterparts and provides an excellent opportunity for relationship building with vital allies in the fight against transnational crime and terrorism.

Canadian Bar Association

Issue

The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) may invite you to attend its mid-winter meeting, taking place February 20 and 21, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario. In addition, the CBA is certain to invite you to attend its Legal Conference, scheduled for August 12 to 14, 2016, also in Ottawa.

Background

The CBA is a voluntary organization that represents 37,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Canada. Its mandate includes improving the law, the administration of justice, and access to justice. It also promotes equality in the legal profession and in the justice system; improves the knowledge, skills, ethical standards, and well-being of the legal profession; represents the legal profession nationally and internationally; and promotes the interests of its members. Through the work of its sections, committees, and task forces at national and branch levels, the CBA is often seen as an important voice on issues of interest to both the legal profession and the public.

Justice Canada has a long standing relationship with the CBA. For example, ministers of justice have traditionally attended the CBA Legal Conference (held annually in August) to participate in the "Dialogue Session with the Minister," which involves a plenary speech followed by a Question & Answer session with CBA members. Other examples of this relationship include the annual joint Justice Canada and CBA National Sections Day (now in its 27th year), during which Justice Canada officials meet private sector experts to discuss a broad range of topics, such as Aboriginal Law, Constitutional and Human Rights Law, Criminal Justice, Privacy and Access Law, and Intellectual Property Law. National Sections Day typically takes place in October, but due to the recent federal election, the meeting was postponed until February 2016. The CBA mid-winter meeting (held in February each year) is usually attended by the Deputy Minister or his delegate.

Recommended Action

Your attendance is not required at the CBA mid-winter meeting in February, 2016; however, it is recommended that you ask the Deputy Minister or his delegate to attend in your stead should you be invited. Your attendance is recommended at the CBA Legal Conference in August, 2016.

National victims of Crime Awareness Week initiative

Issue

Your approval will be sought to continue the National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (Victims Week) initiative.

Background

Victims Week is an annual outreach initiative of the Government of Canada led by Justice Canada's Policy Centre for Victim Issues (PCVI).      [Information was severed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. s.21(1)(a), s.21(1)(b), s.21(1)(c)]     

The goal of Victims Week is to raise awareness about the issues facing victims of crime in Canada and the programs, services, and laws in place to help victims of crime and their families participate more fully in the criminal justice system. There are three components of Victims Week that help Justice Canada achieve this goal: funding for community-based projects and events through Justice Canada's Victims Fund; the annual Federal Symposium to officially launch Victims Week; and the Department's Victims Week website.

Each year, funding is made available through Justice Canada's Victims Fund for organizations across the country to plan projects and events in their own communities. In 2015, the Victims Fund contributed to 190 events and projects in every province and territory in Canada. Organizations received a maximum funding contribution of $10,000 for their projects and events that helped raise awareness of victims' issues in their communities. A call for proposals is normally launched in September and applicants are required to submit a funding proposal within one month of the launch to enable a timely review of all proposals received.

Over the past 10 years, the Federal Symposium in Ottawa, Ontario has become a staple event for the victims' community in Canada with prominent advocates and victims of crime making it a priority to attend each year. Representatives of victim-serving organizations attend this event to learn new skills and best practices that can be applied to their daily work. The symposium demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to victims of crime and those that support and provide services to them. Traditionally, opening remarks are provided by the Minister of Justice, who is often joined by the Minister of Public Safety.

The Department's Victims Week website provides helpful resources to victims of crime and features the "Sharing Our Stories" videos, photo essays, and written testimonials that help raise awareness about victims' issues to the general public.

Recommended Action

A briefing note will be submitted to your office seeking approval to continue with the Victims Week initiative.

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