Appendix B: Descriptions of Program Components

Program Component Description Number of Projects Funded during the period covered by the evaluation
Access to Justice Services Agreements – Public Legal Education and Information The Access to Justice Services Agreements (AJA) are funding arrangements between the federal government and Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The AJAs support the delivery of access to justice-related services, including public legal education and information. N/A
Family Justice Support Through Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $35 million over five years for enhanced family justice system supports for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). The objectives of the funding is to improve support and access to justice for these victims of who are involved in the family justice system. Funding can support a range of activities that assist victims of IPV to access and navigate the family justice system and improve justice system responses. 4
Family Violence Initiative The Family Violence Initiative supports the development, implementation, testing and assessment of models, strategies, and tools to improve the justice system’s response to family violence. It also supports projects that raise public awareness of the issue and encourage public involvement in responding to family violence. Funding is available to organizations that want to conduct pilot projects to develop, test and assess models, strategies and tools to improve the justice system’s response to family violence. Funding is also available for PLEI projects to promote public access to family violence information. Funding is only available for short-term projects. 23
Intimate Partner Violence/Independent Legal Advice/ Representation;

In Budget 2021, in the context of “Advancing a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence”, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $48.75 million over five years through two Justice Canada programs to ensure access to free legal advice and legal representation for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.

Funding through the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program (JPIP) will support the development and implementation of pilot models of Independent Legal Advice (ILA) and Independent Legal Representation (ILR) for survivors of intimate partner violence. ILA programs provide victims with tailored legal advice regarding their legal options following intimate partner violence. ILR programs provide victims with legal counsel to represent their interests in specific instances as provided for in the Criminal Code of Canada (i.e. in s. 276 and s. 278 proceedings as a part of a criminal sexual assault trial).

The objective of the funding is to reduce re-traumatization of victims of IPV when engaging with the justice system, and work towards increasing confidence in the justice system’s response to gender-based violence.

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JPIP General

JPIP provides contribution funding for projects that support ensuring a fair, relevant and accessible Canadian justice system. JPIP supports activities that respond effectively to the changing conditions affecting Canadian justice policy. Priorities include access to justice, family violence, and emerging justice issues.

The objectives of the Program are:

  • To promote and encourage involvement in the identification of emerging trends, issues and/or gaps and possible responses with respect to the justice system.
  • To promote innovations in the justice system to ensure greater access to the justice system.
  • To build knowledge, awareness, understanding and informed dialogue among justice stakeholders and/or the public on justice issues including access to justice, racism, official languages, anti-terrorism, sentencing and other emerging justice issues, including justice related issues in the international fora.
  • To inform Canadians about access to justice issues and the justice system in order to contribute to increased public understanding, participation, confidence and trust in the justice system.
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Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) The JPIP provides core funding annually to 10 PLEI organizations across Canada (one per province). PLEI materials and activities provided by these organizations assist the public in understanding the law, their rights and obligations, and the Canadian justice system. 10
Revitalization of Indigenous Laws – Call to Action 50 (CTA 50)

In Budget 2019, in the context of “Making Progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action” the Government of Canada responded to Call to Action 50 by proposing to invest $10 million over five years in support of Indigenous law initiatives across Canada through the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program , to improve equality for Indigenous Peoples in Canada’s legal system. This funding will support renewed legal relationships with Indigenous peoples by funding initiatives that will advance the development, use and understanding of Indigenous laws.

The objective of this initiative is to fund projects that support to development, use and understanding of Indigenous laws and access to justice in accordance with the unique cultures of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. The intention is to fund Indigenous law revitalization projects in all regions of Canada involving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis legal traditions.

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Violence Against Aboriginal Women and Girls The Justice Partnership and Innovation Program – Violence Against Aboriginal Women and Girls supports Aboriginal communities in breaking intergenerational cycles of violence and abuse through awareness activities, pilot projects, tools and resources to reduce vulnerability to violence and to build healthy relationships. 8