Evidence of meeting #55 for Justice and Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Ève Péclet NDP La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I am not a mathematician. I am a politician and I am no expert in financial matters. But, as I do the math, it is about $120 million. However, in 2010-2011, it was $132 million. Has the demand gone down?
5:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice
The demand has certainly not gone down.
5:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice
Sometimes, some aspects of the program that are about to expire are renewed. Perhaps that is what is happening here. I do not know. Perhaps we can compare the figures.
5:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice
In the entire justice system, absolutely. In some areas, there has indeed been an increase in demand.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Ève Péclet NDP La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Right now, is the department reviewing its strategy to respond to the growing demand for legal aid? Budgets seem to have been much the same since 2006. So will there be no restructuring of the legal aid program?
5:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice
In additional to that amount, funds in the department have been set aside for a study on innovation in legal aid and to gather expert advice. That report has just been completed and it is now public.
The provinces are great innovators in legal aid programs. In our federation, the provinces are responsible for the administration of justice. It is difficult for Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan, for example, to share what they are doing in terms of innovation in those programs. We have gathered all the innovation going on in areas such as health, education and the administration of justice, and we are holding meetings with officials and ministers to discuss it.
5:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice
It is already posted on our site. We can send you the link.
It is impressive to see just how much innovation has happened in the justice system, but it is difficult to share, to invest, to learn lessons and to increase the value received for the money invested.
As you know, the legal system is based on paper documents at the moment. If you compare the justice system to the methods being used in health care delivery, distance health technology or e-health, you can see that it is a long way behind.
My colleague, who works more closely with the courts, will be able to tell you more about it.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace
Thank you very much.
Thank you for those questions and those answers.
I have no more questioners, so I want to move to the supplementary estimates (B) votes.
ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS SUPPORT SERVICE OF CANADA Vote 2b—Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada – Program expenditures..........$1
(Vote 2b agreed to)
COMMISSIONER FOR FEDERAL JUDICIAL AFFAIRS Vote 1b—Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs—Operating expenditures..........$66,419 Vote 5b—Canadian Judicial Council—Operating expenditures..........$1,600,000
(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to)
JUSTICE Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$11,040,519 Vote 5b—Grants listed in the Estimates and contributions.........$38,950,000
(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to)
SUPREME COURT OF CANADA Vote 1b—Program expenditures..........$118,300
(Vote 1b agreed to)
Shall the chair report votes 2b under the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada, vote 1b and vote 5b under the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs, vote 1b and vote 5b under Justice, and vote 1b under the Supreme Court of Canada to the House?
5:20 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace
Thank you very much.
That will be done tomorrow. It won't be done by me. One of my colleagues, Mr. Dechert, is going to do it for us.
Thank you very much for coming today. I know we were interrupted briefly, but I appreciate everyone coming. I think virtually everyone got in a question at least in their area, so I appreciate that.
Thanks very much, and have a good weekend. Happy Thanksgiving. Go Seahawks go!
The meeting is adjourned.