Lead Department: Department of Justice
Start Date of the Horizontal Initiative: June 1999
End Date
of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing
Total Federal Funding
Allocation: $215.2M (4.5M Ops + 210.7M G&C) Actual
Spending: $202.4M (3.0M Ops + 199.4M G&C) Explanation on variances: For
G&C: TBS reallocation exercise $10.3M and lapse $160K
Description
The Youth Justice Renewal Initiative is aimed at achieving, over time, a
fairer and more effective youth justice system through (among other things)
promoting proportionate and meaningful responses that foster offender
rehabilitation. The major focus for 2002-2003 was preparing for the coming into
force of the new Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) on April 1, 2003. With the
legislation in force, challenges remain in ensuring that some youth are not
unfairly disadvantaged in its implementation and that other sectors are aware of
the opportunities to support youth in conflict with the law. The Department will
continue to work with provinces and territories, and with sectors not
traditionally involved in the justice system, with focus on fair justice
outcomes for the often marginalized groups of youth.
For more information, visit web site: http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/yj/yoas3.html.
Shared Outcome(s)
A fair relevant, accessible justice system that refelcts Canadian values.
Governance Structures
The Youth Justice Policy Section, part of the Criminal Law Policy and
Community Justice Branch, was established to operationalize, implement and
administer the mandate of the YJRI at the federal level. The General
Counsel/Director General of Youth Justice is accountable for the YJRI and
provides leadership in the implementation of the YJRI. Provincial/Territorial
government stakeholders are involved through the CCSO-YJ which meets three times
a year and is a key forum for discussion and coordination of YJRI issues.
Partners
- Department of Justice (lead)
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
- Canadian Heritage
- Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (National Secretariat on
Homelessness)
- Other national governments
- Provincial and territorial governments: all, given the
jurisdictions' responsibility for the administration of justice
- Municipal governments: often involved where the Department of
Justice supports activities/initiatives in youth justice within
municipalities (for example: in Winnipeg, the City of Winnipeg has been
involved in the launching of the Aboriginal Youth Cities Project)
- Non-governmental organizations: consulted on specific issues;
received funding to undertake pilot and capacity building projects and
develop partnerships; brought together for discussions and education
about the Initiative and the Act; received resources to plan and
undertake gatherings on youth justice issues.
- Private sector organizations: defence lawyers have received
materials on the Act and were brought together to discuss implications
of YCJA on their work.
- First Nations and other Aboriginal groups: can apply for
resources to support culturally relevant youth justice initiatives, or
to build HR capacity and infrastructure through the Aboriginal Community
Capacity Building Component of the Youth Justice Renewal Fund; Youth
Justice Policy has supported forums to bring together Native
Courtworkers, Aboriginal Community Justice Coordinators, and Community
Trainers from across Canada to discuss the new Act, its implications for
their communities and broader youth justice issues.
Contact
Elizabeth Hendy,
elizabeth.hendy@justice.gc.ca
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