Community-Based Justice Fund

Overview

The Community-Based Justice Fund supports community-based justice programs in partnership with Aboriginal communities. Programs are cost-shared with provincial and territorial governments and designed to reflect the culture and values of the communities in which they are situated.

Currently, the Aboriginal Justice Strategy (AJS) funds approximately 275 community-based programs that serve over 600 communities.

Find a program near you.

Objectives and Activities

The objectives of the Community-Based Justice Fund are:

  • to help reduce the rates of crime and incarceration among Aboriginal people in communities with cost-shared programs;
  • to allow Aboriginal people the opportunity to assume greater responsibility for the administration of justice in their communities; and,
  • to foster improved responsiveness, fairness, inclusiveness, and effectiveness of the justice system with respect to justice and its administration so as to meet the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal people in the areas of appropriate models for:
    • diversion;
    • the development of pre-sentencing options;
    • sentencing alternatives (circles);
    • use of Justices of the Peace;
    • family and civil mediation; and,
    • additional community justice services such as victims support or offender-reintegration services which support the overall goals of the Aboriginal Justice Strategy.

Initiatives or activities that support the Community-Based Justice Fund can fall at any point along the justice continuum, including but not limited to, prevention, pre-charge, post-charge and reintegration. To be eligible for funding, all initiatives or activities must have a clear link to the objectives of the Aboriginal Justice Strategy.

Who is eligible?

Any of the following may be eligible for contribution funding under the Community-Based Justice Fund:

  • First Nations, bands, Tribal Councils, local, regional and national Aboriginal organizations;
  • regional/municipal governments including their agencies and institutions;
  • non-profit community organizations, societies, and associations which have voluntarily associated themselves for a non-profit purpose; and,
  • provincial and territorial governments (in the case of flow-through agreements).

How to Apply

There is no call for proposal process for this program stream. If you are interested in discussing a funding proposal, we encourage you to contact a Regional Coordinator in your jurisdiction.

Proposals received are reviewed by the Regional Coordinator in consultation with the Provincial/Territorial partners. Assessment factors may include community requirements and the availability of funds.

Official Languages

In support of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act the Department is committed to facilitate the participation of official language minority communities and their organizations in the development and assessment of the Department's policies, programs and services having significant impact on the development of the communities; and to take measures to ensure that the Department of Justice's programs and services reach official language minority communities. In the context of project funding, these measures include:

  • Outreach to official language minority communities to enhance their understanding of the Department of Justice funding programs
  • Encouraging contacts between organizations that are receiving financial assistance and official language minority organizations/groups to ensure that the needs of these communities are taken into consideration in relation to the proposed projects to be considered for Department of Justice Canada funding.

Sustainable Development

We encourage you to submit your application electronically. If you submit your application on paper, please consider printing on both sides of the paper. These actions will minimize environmental impacts.

Publications and Resources

Aboriginal Justice Strategy Publications and Resources

2011

2010

Other Publications and Resources

Contribution Funds for Non-Governmental Organizations, a Handbook (PDF Version)
This guide is designed as a reference tool to help funding recipients better understand and comply with the financial requirements described in contribution agreements.  It is recommended that recipients review this handbook at the onset of their funding agreements.

Contact Information

The Aboriginal Justice Strategy
The Aboriginal Justice Directorate
Department of Justice
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8
Tel: 1-866-442-4468
Fax: (613) 957-4697
ajs-sja@justice.gc.ca
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fund-fina/acf-fca/ajs-sja/index.html

Regional Coordinators

New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec

284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H8
Tel: (613) 960-9672
Fax: (613) 957-4697

Ontario / Manitoba

123-2nd Avenue South, 10th Floor
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 7E6
Tel: (306) 780-5270
Fax: (306) 975-5116

Saskatchewan

123-2nd Avenue South, 10th Floor
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 7E6
Tel: (306) 780-5270
Fax: (306) 975-5116

British Columbia

900-840 Howe Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2S9
Tel: (604) 666-6009
Fax: (604) 666-7121

Alberta

900-840 Howe Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2S9
Tel: (604) 666-6009
Fax: (604) 666-7121

Northwest Territories and Yukon

3162, 3rd Avenue
Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 1G3
Tel: (867) 393-7973
Fax: (867) 393-7951

Nunavut

3162, 3rd Avenue
Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 1G3
Tel: (867) 393-7963
Fax: (867) 393-7951