Report Card September 2000 provides a status report on the strategies undertaken by the government in response to the eight main themes and 25 core recommendations put forward by Alberta Summit on Justice delegates in their final report. The government response outlined immediate strategies, including those already underway, short term strategies, including those that could be implemented in the current fiscal year depending on available resources, and longer term strategies, which would be built into future three-year business plans where additional funding might be required. The report card summarizes the government's progress to date.

The Alberta Summit on Justice was called in January 1998 by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jon Havelock, Q.C., to "build consensus on actions for improving public confidence and community participation in the justice system." The summit was held in Calgary, Alberta, January 27-29, 1999. Of the 151 delegates invited to the summit, 83 were randomly selected from across the province based on demographics such as gender, age, occupation and First Nation/Metis considerations. The other 68 were representatives from sectors with an interest in justice issues. Prior to the summit, public meetings were held in 17 communities across Alberta, and the results of the consultation process were provided to the delegates for consideration.

Alberta Summit on Justice
Steering Committee Terms of Reference (February 1998)

Mission:
To increase public confidence and community participation in the justice system.

Purpose:
The purpose of the Alberta Summit on Justice is to make a good justice system better. The summit will gather input from those outside and within the system and will focus on public confidence in the justice system; victims' rights and involvement in the justice system; youth crime; policing; Aboriginal justice; barriers to access to justice, including the development of alternatives to traditional processes; and, any other related issues. The summit will also serve to better inform Albertans about the justice system.

Objective:
The objective of the summit on justice is to increase community confidence and participation in the justice system. The summit on justice will:

• establish principles and values to guide all justice partners
• identify issues, challenges and opportunities
• determine ways to make more effective and efficient use of justice system resources
• examine and clarify justice partner roles and responsibilities
• confirm priorities for change and future direction and
• improve understanding, cooperation and communication among justice partners and the community.

Steering Committee Membership:
The steering committee will be chaired by the Honourable Jon Havelock, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Alberta. Committee members include:

• Mr. J. Bancroft, Q.C., President, Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch)
• Mr. G. W. Flynn, Q.C., President, Law Society of Alberta
• Mr. D. Gates, Senior Regional Director, Justice Canada
• Ms. M. Gosselin, Director General, Solicitor General Canada
• Mr. R. Lameman, Executive Director, Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations
• Ms. C. Leonard, Executive Director, John Howard Society of Alberta
• Chief J. A. Lindsay, Q.C., President, Alberta Association of Chief of Police
• Mr. Richard Magnus, MLA Calgary-North Hill
• Ms. C. Mandin-Kossowan, President, Canadians Against Violence Everywhere Advocating its Termination
• Asst. Commissioner D. N. McDermid, Commanding Officer, RCMP 'K' Division
• Mr. K. Noskey, President, Metis Settlements General Council
• Ms. A. Poitras, President, Metis Nation of Alberta Association
• Mr. G. Smith, Executive Director, Treaty 7 Tribal Council and
• Grand Chief E. Tallman, Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta.

Advisory Committee:

• Chief Justice C. Fraser, Chief Justice of Alberta
• Chief Justice W.K. Moore, Alberta Court of Queen's Bench and
• Chief Judge E. Wachowich, Provincial Court of Alberta.

Steering Committee Responsibilities:

• finalize intended summit on justice objectives
• finalize working committee's terms of reference
• identify working committee members
• approve public consultation plan
• oversee summit on justice organization and implementation and
• prepare and submit the final report on the summit on justice to the government.

Meetings:
The steering committee will meet at the direction of the chair.

Consideration:
To preserve the traditional independence of the judiciary, the members of the judiciary will serve in an advisory capacity to the steering committee.