Northern Directions:
A Policy Vision for Justice in the North - A Justice Canada Discussion Paper

March 2006

The Mandate of the Department of Justice in the Territories

The Department seeks to use the influence of the dual roles of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to increase the relevance and effectiveness of the northern justice system through:

Prosecutions (Attorney General):

The Attorney General of Canada, Federal Prosecution Service, is responsible for the delivery of all criminal prosecutions in the Territories. Federal prosecutors and Crown Witness Assistants (CWCs) carry out this work. This gives the Department a broad influence over the northern justice system and the ability to play a major leadership role in its development.

The Minister of Justice:

  The Minister of Justice contributes funding to support the criminal defence role in the northern justice system though the Access to Justice Agreements with the territorial governments, which provide funding for criminal and civil legal aid, Aboriginal Court workers who assist accused persons before the courts, and public legal education.

Legal Advice and Litigation Services to Government Clients (Attorney General):

Northern Region counsel for the Attorney General of Canada have an expertise in northern legal issues that they bring to the work of advising federal government clients and providing litigation and risk management support.

Policy Advice and Program Support and Delivery (Minister of Justice):

The broad responsibility of the Department in the territories includes its role of providing expertise in policy advice on northern issues, and in supporting its policy goals by funding innovative and relevant justice initiatives in collaboration with territorial governments and partners.

Leadership in Horizontal Initiatives:

As a key partner in the array of responses to social problems in the North, the Department has an obligation to encourage, support and initiate collaborative strategies that will more effectively address the long-standing concerns of the citizens of Northern Canada.

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