Youth Justice Services Funding Program

In Canada, the federal government and the provincial/territorial governments have different yet complementary responsibilities with respect to youth justice. While the federal government takes care of youth justice legislation (which falls under criminal law), provinces and territories are responsible for the provision of the various services and programs for young persons in conflict with the law. Given the obvious need for a range of appropriate services to support the application of the federal legislation, the Youth Justice Services Funding Program provides provinces and territories with financial assistance in the delivery of selected services and programs.

As part of its Youth Justice Renewal Strategy, the federal government reassessed the way it supported youth justice programs and services. As of April 1, 1999, new financial arrangements that supported the new youth legislation were negotiated with the provinces and territories. Besides having federal funding increased to provinces and territories, these agreements target the federal funding carefully so that the main objectives of the Strategy could be better supported.

Why this program exists

Before 1984, provinces and territories received some federal funding for youth justice services under the Canada Assistance Plan (CAP). When the Young Offenders Act (YOA) was passed in 1985, the Juvenile Justice Services Program, now renamed the Youth Justice Services Funding Program, was initiated as a distinct program that coincided with the YOA.

The main objective of the Youth Justice Services Funding Program was, and still is, to provide financial support to provinces and territories in their delivery of programs and services consistent with the federal youth justice legislation. Although the nature of the agreements has changed considerably over the past few years to reflect a better and more efficient targeting of federal funding to the priority areas identified by the Youth Justice Renewal Strategy, this program remains an essential complement to the legislation.

Contact Information

Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
CANADA
K1A 0H8

Telephone: (613) 941-4123
Fax: (613) 941-5446
E-mail: prgmbranch@justice.gc.ca