Department of Justice Canada Minister's Transition Book

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page

Support to the Minister of Justice and the Minister's Office

Deputy Minister and Associate Deputy Minister's Office

Deputy Minister

Appointed pursuant to subsection 3(1) of the Department of Justice Act, the Deputy Minister is responsible for the management and direction of the Department.

Under subsection 3(2) of the Department of Justice Act, the Deputy Minister is ex officio the Deputy Attorney General, except in respect of the powers, duties and functions that the Director of Public Prosecutions is authorized to exercise or perform under subsection 3(3) of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act.

Chief of Staff to the Deputy Minister

Catherine Rudick, 613-948-8981

Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister

Julie Legros, 613-957-4998

The Deputy Minister supports the Minister to achieve the Government’s objectives through four broad roles: Manager of the Department, Chief Policy Advisor, Accounting Officer and Litigation.

Manager of the Department

As the Department’s top public servant, the Deputy Minister has overall responsibility for managing the Department of Justice.

In addition, as a member of the community of deputy ministers, the Deputy Minister of Justice shares responsibility with colleagues in other government departments for contributing to the overall leadership of the public service under the direction of the Clerk of the Privy Council.

Chief Policy Advisor

The Deputy Minister acts as principal policy advisor to the Minister on matters within the Minister’s responsibility and authority. She coordinates policy development and ensures the departmental implementation of the Minister’s initiatives and priorities. She also advises on coherent policy development for and management of the Minister’s portfolio.

Accounting Officer

The Financial Administration Act provides that deputy ministers and deputy heads of government entities are designated accounting officers for their organizations. Under the legislation, the responsibilities of accounting officers arise within the framework of ministerial responsibility and accountability to Parliament. Accounting officers are required to appear before the appropriate parliamentary committee to answer questions regarding a specified range of responsibilities and duties relating to departmental management. These responsibilities include managing departmental resources in accordance with government policies and procedures, maintaining effective systems of internal control and signing the departmental accounts.

Litigation

The Deputy Attorney General has important responsibilities in relation to litigation. She oversees and directs all civil and administrative litigation conducted by or on behalf of the Crown, as well as litigation under the Extradition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.

Following the creation of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the Deputy Attorney General retained a role as advisor to the Attorney General with respect to the exercise of powers reserved to the Attorney General under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act and may be called upon to intervene in proceedings raising questions of public interest or assume the conduct of a prosecution.

In addition, certain decisions in litigation matters involving international relations, national defence and national security are made by the Deputy Attorney General. This includes the delegation of authority to officials within the Department who may authorize disclosure of information under section 38 of the Canada Evidence Act. This provision governs the protection and disclosure of information that is sensitive or potentially injurious to international relations, national defence or national security if released.

Associate Deputy Minister

Appointed pursuant to subsection 3(3) of the Department of Justice Act, the Associate Deputy Minister has the rank and status of a deputy head of a department and performs such powers, duties and functions under the Deputy Minister.

Executive Assistant to the Associate Deputy Minister

Shawn Béchamp, 613-941-4072

While the Deputy Minister of Justice leads the Department and remains accountable for all decisions and actions taken within the Department, all sectors and portfolios report to the Deputy Minister and Associate Deputy Minister. Although they both have specific areas of responsibility, their leadership approach enables either of them to lead as one on any issue at any given time.

Deputy Minister Team

Manager DMO Legal Team and Departmental Advisor and Senior Counsel

Marie-Claude Filion, 613-952-0627

DMO Legal Team

Agnès Lévesque, Acting Senior Counsel, 613-946-3869
Kim Thalheimer, Senior Counsel, 613-946-3868

Departmental Advisor

Sarah Sherhols, 613-992-6519

Office Manager

Suzanne Désormeaux, 613-954-1200

Suggested Key Weekly Meetings

Weekly Bilateral with the Deputy Minister

A weekly bilateral meeting between the Minister, Minister’s Chief of Staff, Deputy Minister, and Associate Deputy Minister could be scheduled to discuss emerging issues and files, and is proposed to occur before the MIN/DM.

MIN/DM

The MIN/DM would be a weekly opportunity for the Deputy Minister and the Associate Deputy Minister to meet with the Minister. This meeting would serve two purposes. First, it would provide a forum for the constructive exchange of information and in-depth discussions on sensitive and emerging issues, as well as advice on the management of files. Second, it would facilitate the decision-making process. Justice officials would participate by invitation to provide in–depth briefings on files or issues.

Weekly Bilateral with the Chief of Staff

The Deputy Minister and Associate Deputy Minister could meet weekly with the Minister’s Chief of Staff to discuss the management of files.

Two-Week Look Ahead

The Two-Week Look Ahead is a proposed weekly meeting, chaired by the Deputy Minister/Associate Deputy Minister, to plan the upcoming two weeks with the Minister’s staff and senior departmental officials. It would provide an opportunity to identify and discuss Cabinet and parliamentary activities and files, as well as briefing requirements and communications-related events. It would also provide an opportunity to discuss strategic initiatives, share timely information and confirm horizontal linkages.

Ministerial Secretariat

The Ministerial Secretariat is part of the Deputy Minister’s Office and plays a key role in supporting the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy Minister and senior departmental officials by providing front-line services including strategic advice, expertise and executive operational services in support of Cabinet and parliamentary business, legislation and regulation, portfolio issues coordination, Governor in Council appointments, ministerial correspondence, briefing needs, ministerial invitations and trips as well as proactive disclosure requirements pertaining to briefing materials and parliamentary documents.

The Secretariat is headed by the Senior Director’s Office, and is comprised of three units: the Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit, the Ministerial Liaison Unit and the Ministerial Correspondence Unit. Together, these units form the main point of entry into the Minister’s Office, and support the Minister, Deputy Minister and Associate Deputy Minister offices by working in close collaboration with them with a view to enhancing horizontal information sharing and supporting decision making across the Department.

Senior Director, Ministerial Secretariat

Yanike Legault, 613-952-8354

Director, Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit

Zachary Healy, 613-957-4994

Manager, Ministerial Liaison Unit and Ministerial Correspondence Unit

Julie Gauthier, 613-948-2205

Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs Unit (CPAU)

The CPAU supports the Minister in the Cabinet decision–making process and in the Minister’s legislative and parliamentary responsibilities by providing timely, comprehensive briefing materials and strategic advice and expertise. CPAU also establishes and maintains a network of contacts with Central Agencies, other government departments and Justice portfolio organizations to closely monitor and coordinate Cabinet, parliamentary and legislative business of a horizontal nature and offer strategic advice.

The support provided by CPAU is achieved by, amongst other things:

• monitoring all Cabinet and parliamentary activities as well as acting as the primary liaison between the Minister’s Office and the Department on these matters;
• coordinating and managing the Department’s Cabinet and parliamentary agenda and providing strategic advice on parliamentary procedures and the Cabinet process;
• developing strategies, approaches and initiatives to advance the Cabinet, parliamentary and legislative agenda, including with regard to the Department's overall strategic framework;
• coordinating the preparation of Memoranda to Cabinet and supporting documents, including the preparation of cover notes for the Minister and the development of Parliament Plans;
• preparing, coordinating and reviewing all briefing materials, including speeches and talking points, for the Minister’s use at Cabinet and before Parliament;
• coordinating and managing Parliamentary Returns and providing support for Question Period;
• coordinating and managing regulatory initiatives, including the Forward Regulatory Plan;
• coordinating the tabling before Parliament of annual reports and other special reports and documents such as Charter Statements;
• supporting the Minister's Office with Governor in Council appointments processes by providing advice, managing changes, and developing new tools;
• leading the annual Budget submission exercise for Justice, including liaising with portfolio organizations.

Ministerial Liaison Unit (MLU)

The MLU serves as the primary liaison for information going to and coming from the Minister’s Office by:

• providing executive operational services with regard to ministerial briefing needs;
• providing strategic advice and recommendations on the communication of information to the Minister’s Office and Deputy Minister’s Office and ensuring information is of the highest quality;
• organizing oral briefings with the Minister’s Office and managing information needs to support meetings between the Minister and Deputy Minister;
• managing and coordinating, in collaboration with the Ministerial Correspondence Unit, the preparation of responses to Ministerial invitations;
• supporting the organization and preparation of briefing materials for ministerial trips.

Ministerial Correspondence Unit (MCU)

The MCU is responsible for the management, development and implementation of departmental systems, processes and procedures for the preparation, production, review, analysis and approval of replies to ministerial correspondence for the signature of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Deputy Minister and the Associate Deputy Minister. MCU prepares replies to approximately 95 percent of the incoming ministerial mail; the remaining 5 percent is sent to various departmental sectors for specific input from a policy or legal perspective.

MCU conducts research, monitors the news to provide input on existing or emerging trends, and identifies hot topics that may require special response actions. It provides strategic advice, recommendations and reports on all matters related to the management of ministerial correspondence including managing strategic assessments of incoming requests to the Minister from the public, federal/provincial/territorial representatives, Parliamentarians, and key stakeholders.

Communications Branch

The Communications Branch includes the Director General’s Office, Strategic Communications Division, and Digital and Corporate Communications. Employees of the Branch also work in four of the Department’s regional offices (Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal).

The Branch provides advice and planning services in media relations, media monitoring and analysis, Ministerial event support, internal and external communications, digital and social media, graphic design and speeches.

The Branch also coordinates issues management and external communications, and is responsible for coordinating paid advertising, public opinion research, consultations and publishing activities (print and digital).

Director General, Communications Branch

Shirley Anne Off, 613-957-9596

Deputy Director General, Strategic Communications

Kirstan Gagnon, 613-954-6327

Director, Corporate and Digital Communications

Charles Stanfield, 613-948-1334

Media and External Relations Unit

The Unit liaises closely with the Minister’s Office to respond to media requests:

• The Unit provides journalists with necessary background information on departmental positions on justice issues, provides a detect-and-correct function, and promotes the activities and policies of the Department and the Minister;
• prepares media lines for the Minister and Department;
• coordinates media interviews and media technical briefings;
• provides operational and organizational support for press conferences, announcements and media events; and
• works horizontally with other government departments on joint initiatives and media responses.

Policy Communications Unit

The Unit provides advice on policy, program, and legislative initiatives related to departmental and ministerial priorities. The team also works horizontally with other government departments and stakeholders on joint and multi-party communications activities.

The team provides advice and support to the Department by developing materials, including communications plans, media lines, Qs and As, news releases/statements, social media and Web content. They also play a coordinating role for announcements. The unit liaises closely with senior officials, various departmental policy sections, and other government departments, as well as the Minister’s Office. The team is also involved in developing and producing public awareness and public information web and printed documents.

Outreach, Events and Ministerial Trip Coordination Unit

The Unit supports the Minister’s Office by identifying communications opportunities and events to raise awareness of government priorities and investments. The team works with departmental stakeholders on communications, supports event planning, and prepares the necessary products for ministerial announcements and trips.

Regional Communications

Communications staff in the Department’s regional offices provide support on various initiatives ranging from litigation to extradition, media relations, Ministerial events planning and implementation, and internal communications for regional offices.

Digital Communications Unit

The Unit manages and coordinates the Department’s website content, as well as Justice Canada’s official social media accounts. These currently include Justice Twitter, Justice Facebook, and the Minister’s official Twitter account—one in each official language. The unit works with branch colleagues as well as the Minister’s Office to coordinate and monitor social and digital media, and to comply with official languages, accessibility, and Treasury Board guidelines. The team also includes in-house designers, photographers, and videographers to develop creative content and provide support at Ministerial events.

Corporate Communications Team

One of the key responsibilities of the team is preparing and coordinating judicial appointment news releases. It works closely with the Judicial Affairs Advisor in the Minister’s Office, respecting the role of the Minister’s Office in this process.

The team’s Speechwriting unit provides advice, writing, planning, and guidance in Ministerial speech strategy and delivery. The unit prepares speeches, including for swearing-in ceremonies related to judicial appointments, and it researches, writes, edits, translates and evaluates the presentation of speeches for the Minister or the Minister’s official delegate. The unit also coordinates public opinion research and consultations, and it works closely with others on major departmental reporting (e.g. Departmental Results Reports).

Members of the Executive Committee and their Areas of Responsibility

Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio

The Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio comprises lawyers, paralegals and other professionals dedicated to providing expert legal services and legal policy advice to the whole of government on a wide range of Aboriginal law and Indigenous policy issues. The Portfolio plays a leadership role in coordinating and integrating advice from the Department of Justice on these issues in the advisory, negotiations, litigation and policy contexts. The Portfolio also plays a key client partnership role in supporting all policy, operational and legislative priorities, including managing legal and litigation risks, of its two major clients, the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Department of Indigenous Services Canada.

Key areas of Portfolio expertise include:

• Reconciliation and the constitutional framework for the Crown-Indigenous relationship, including Aboriginal rights and title and treaty rights protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;
• Duty to consult;
• Fiduciary duties owed to Indigenous peoples;
• Self-government and modern treaty negotiations;
• Indian Act and other federal legislation in relation to Indigenous peoples;
• Specific claims in relation to past wrongs against First Nations;
• Administration of justice in Indigenous communities;
• Northern affairs; and
• The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Business and Regulatory Law Portfolio

The Business and Regulatory Law Portfolio provides integrated legal advisory services, including litigation and drafting support services, to over 40 client departments, agencies and other federal entities. These services are provided through 12 departmental legal services units, a Centre of Expertise in Procurement Law, the Resource Development Coordination Unit and the Commercial Law Section.

The 12 legal services units are co-located with their respective client departments:

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;
• Canadian Heritage;
• Competition Bureau;
• Employment and Social Development Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada;
• Environment and Climate Change Canada;
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada;
• Global Affairs Canada;
• Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada;
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada;
• Natural Resources Canada;
• Public Services and Procurement Canada and Shared Services Canada; and
• Transport Canada and Infrastructure Canada.

The Centre of Expertise in Procurement Law, hosted within the Public Services and Procurement Canada and Shared Services Canada departmental legal services unit, has the exclusive mandate for providing procurement legal advice to all Department of Justice clients, including major procurement files.

Through the Resource Development Coordination Unit, the Assistant Deputy Minister provides advice and litigation support on major resource projects and ensures consistency of legal positions where there are overlapping client departments on resource projects.

Through the Commercial Law Section, the Assistant Deputy Minister has functional responsibility for the practice of commercial law across the Department of Justice in order to provide strategic direction and ensure consistency of legal positions and practices throughout federal departments and agencies.

Central Agencies Portfolio

The Central Agencies Portfolio manages legal, policy and operational issues related to the central agency functions of government.

The Portfolio provides legal advice and legislative services in a range of areas including financial institutions, federal financial transfers to the provinces and territories, tax policy, trade issues, securities and capital markets regulation, money laundering, terrorist financing, financial administration and Crown corporations, public service employment and labour law, as well as the development and implementation of the federal budget.

The Portfolio provides advisory and litigation services to the Department of Finance, the Legal Services of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. The Portfolio also manages advisory and litigation services for the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions of Canada.

Communications Branch

The Communications Branch supports the Minister, Deputy Minister and senior managers to ensure that communications with the public are well coordinated, effectively managed and responsive to the needs of the audience. The Branch provides a full range of external and internal communications services, including strategic communications advice, media relations, issues management, Minister and Deputy Minister event coordination and digital engagement.

The Branch develops communications plans, news releases, media lines, speeches, graphic design and digital content across multiple platforms. The Branch also partners with other government departments and agencies to ensure that litigation communications are well coordinated, clear and effective in communicating the Crown’s position on legal matters.

Internal Audit and Evaluation Sector

The Internal Audit and Evaluation Sector of the Department of Justice strengthens the accountability and improves the overall effectiveness and efficiency of departmental operations by determining whether the Department’s risk management, internal control and governance processes, as designed and represented by management, are adequate and functioning appropriately. The Sector also ensures that programs, policies and initiatives continue to be relevant, effective and efficient.

The Sector achieves its goals through the activities of its three branches:

• The Internal Audit Branch conducts assurance and consulting engagements, which add value by assessing and contributing to the continuous improvement of the Department’s risk management, internal control and governance processes.
• The Evaluation Branch carries out objective and credible evaluations of the Department’s policies, programs, operations and services, and provides advice regarding departmental and program-level performance measurement.
• The Professional Practices Branch acts as the liaison between the Department and other assurance providers.

Management Sector

The Management Sector provides a suite of internal services to assist the Department in meeting its policy and program priorities, building a workplace of choice and delivering high–quality legal services to the Government of Canada.

Finance

The Sector supports the Deputy Minister’s role as Chief Accounting Officer. It provides objective advice on the overall stewardship of the Department’s financial management and its performance, and it develops and provides guidance on corporate documents such as Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board submissions, Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports.

Human Resources

The Sector provides human resources management, including learning and leadership development, official languages, recruitment, compensation, labour relations, classification and talent/performance management, and offers services to foster a respectful, healthy and safe environment.

Legal Practices

The Sector provides business analysis functions to support evidence-based decisions and delivers a legal education program that supports Justice’s priorities.

Information Technology

The Sector implements the Department’s IT Security Services, provides information management services, and processes public access requests to the Access to Information and Privacy Office.

Corporate Services

The Sector implements the Department’s Safety and Security Program and manages the Department’s accommodations and facilities nationally. It also provides select services to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada under a shared services agreement.

National Litigation Sector

The National Litigation Sector supports the Government, mitigates risks and manages the law before, during, or as a result of litigation. The Attorney General of Canada has responsibility for all litigation for or against the Crown, any department, or Crown agent corporations, but not for criminal prosecutions, which are handled by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. The litigation function within the Department of Justice is managed by the Sector at headquarters, the regional offices and some specialized departmental legal services units. The Assistant Deputy Attorney General has functional and coordination responsibility for all litigation conducted by or on behalf of the Department of Justice.

The National Litigation Sector is also responsible for extradition; mutual legal assistance requests and related litigation; national security litigation and coordination; class action and mass litigation to which Canada is a party; the Agent Affairs Program; and litigation support services and technology.

The Assistant Deputy Attorney General is the Government’s chief legal adviser in matters relating to litigation by and against the Crown.

National Litigation Sector

The Chief General Counsel reports directly to the Deputy Minister and works on significant and high-profile litigation within the Department, working closely with the Assistant Deputy Attorney General and portfolio leads. He serves as a direct resource to the Deputy Minister, offering briefings, advice and strategic guidance on key legal issues from a whole–of–government perspective.

The Chief General Counsel’s role also includes mentoring counsel across the country; sharing his vast experience relating to oral and written advocacy; and supporting government departments and the interaction between litigation and government policy.

Policy Sector

The Policy Sector provides comprehensive legal and policy advice, research, program delivery and international legal technical assistance in support of the justice system.

The Sector comprises the following units: the Criminal Law Policy Section; the Family Children and Youth Section; the Youth Justice and Strategic Initiatives Section; the Programs Branch; the Policy Integration and Coordination Section; and the International Development Section. The Sector’s main areas of expertise are criminal law (substantive and procedural), victims, federal family law, youth criminal justice, Indigenous justice, international development, and access to justice.

The Policy Sector coordinates both the Department’s policy work and its relationships with policy partners in the federal government and with the provinces and territories, non–governmental organizations in Canada, and international institutions and organizations. The Sector is also responsible for sustaining the Department’s research capacity.

The Sector has a multidisciplinary team responsible for grants and contributions. Through this, the Department provides funding to community organizations and other levels of government that are working to support a fair, relevant and accessible justice system.

Privy Council Office Legal Services Sector

Privy Council Office (PCO) Legal Services Sector provides legal advice and services to PCO, its portfolio ministers, and Cabinet in support of whole-of-government decision–making.

The Sector comprises the Cabinet Confidentiality Legal Unit and the Legal Operations Unit and advises PCO on the operation of the Cabinet decision-making system as well as on a wide range of program, policy, legislative, and litigation activities. For example, the Sector supports PCO on matters involving Governor-in-Council and Senate appointments, House of Commons and Senate agenda and activities, intergovernmental relations, and other policy matters facing the Government.

In addition, the Sector serves as the centre of expertise on legal issues surrounding confidences of the Queen’s Privy Council. In this regard, the Sector supports the Clerk of the Privy Council as custodian of confidences and in the exercise of the Clerk’s statutory duties in the context of judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings, and pursuant to requests for access to confidences.

The Sector also supports PCO in litigation respecting their responsibilities such as Parliament (the Government House Leader), elections (the Minister of Democratic Institutions), intergovernmental matters (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs), youth (Prime Minister), and PCO decisions under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.

Public Law and Legislative Services Sector

The Public Law and Legislative Services Sector delivers specialized legal advisory services and policy advice and plays a fundamental role in developing Canadian legislation and regulations.

PLLSS has recognized expertise in human rights law and policy; constitutional, administrative and international law; information and privacy law and policy; official languages law and policy; judicial affairs; and international trade and investment law.

The Legislative Services Branch drafts bills and regulations in both official languages harmoniously with Canada’s two legal systems. In doing so, it contributes to the general recognition and promotion of bilingualism and bijuralism.

Public Safety, Defence and Immigration Portfolio

The Public Safety, Defence and Immigration Portfolio provides integrated legal advisory services, litigation support and drafting support services to the following departments and agencies:

• Public Safety Canada;
• Correctional Service of Canada;
• Parole Board of Canada;
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
• Canadian Security Intelligence Service;
• Canada Border Services Agency;
• Department of National Defence;
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; and
• Communications Security Establishment.

It is also responsible for the Department of Justice’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Program.

The Portfolio’s main areas of expertise include national security law, corrections law, immigration and refugee law, national defence law, law enforcement and international criminal law.

Tax Law Services Portfolio

The Tax Law Services Portfolio provides legal support, including legal advice, litigation and drafting services, on matters such as the goods and services tax, income tax, collections, employment insurance, administrative law, corporate governance and civil litigation. The Portfolio is located in Ottawa, but provides legal services in coordination with the National Litigation Sector and regional offices across the country. Its in-depth expertise in law and related areas allows the Portfolio to mobilize resources best suited to respond to the evolving legal needs of the Canada Revenue Agency.

Regional Offices

The regional offices form part of the National Litigation Sector and provide litigation and advisory services to federal departments and agencies operating across the country.

Regional Offices

Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Atlantic Regional Office provides legal services to federal departments and agencies in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. The Regional Office’s areas of practice are Aboriginal law, commercial law, real property, immigration, public law, regulatory law and tax law services.

Quebec Region

The Quebec Regional Office is headquartered in Montreal, with a sub-office in Ottawa. Quebec is the only province in which Canada’s two legal traditions exist side by side. Questions of private law are dealt with under the Civil Code of Québec, while common law applies in matters of public and criminal law. The Regional Office provides legal services to federal departments and organizations operating in Quebec. It represents the Attorney General of Canada in proceedings heard by Quebec tribunals, administrative bodies and federal courts, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada in matters such as immigration, tax law, commercial law, regulatory law and Aboriginal law. Its notaries provide legal services related to commercial and real property matters involving the Government of Canada.

Ontario Region

The Ontario Regional Office, located in Toronto, provides legal services to federal client departments and agencies in Ontario. The Regional Office’s areas of practice are litigation, extradition and advisory, immigration law, Aboriginal law and tax law.

Prairie Region

The Prairie Regional Office provides legal services to federal departments and agencies operating in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The main office is located in Edmonton, with additional offices located in Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. The Regional Office’s areas of practice are Aboriginal, tax, business and regulatory, public safety, defence and immigration and extraditions.

British Columbia Region

The British Columbia Regional Office is located in Vancouver, with a sub-office in Victoria. The Regional Office provides legal services to more than 30 federal departments and agencies in British Columbia, as well as in other provinces and territories where the provincial counsel are the lead. The Regional Office’s areas of practice are Aboriginal law, tax law, public safety, defence and immigration, central agency, business and regulatory matters, among others. Regional counsel represent the Government of Canada at various tribunals and all levels of court.

Northern Region

The Northern Regional Office provides legal services to federal departments operating in the three northern territories: Yellowknife (Northwest Territories) and Whitehorse (Yukon); it also has lawyers co–located with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada in Iqaluit (Nunavut). The Regional Office’s areas of practice are Aboriginal law, public safety, defence and immigration, business and regulatory matters and tax law services.

Organizational Chart

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page