Initiative in Support of Access to Justice in both Official Languages

In June 2008, the Government launched the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future. The Department of Justice supports the Roadmap through the Initiative in Support of Access to Justice in Both Official Languages. This Initiative includes a consultation mechanism, a training component in both official languages for justice personnel, a component to encourage young bilingual Canadians to pursue law related careers in justice and a grants and contributions program called the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund (the Support Fund).

Objectives

In order to attain the objectives of the Initiative, the Department will invest resources into the Support Fund.  All projects and activities must respond to one of the following objectives:

• Increase the capacity of the justice system and its stakeholders to offer justice services in both official languages. 
• Increase awareness in the legal community and official language minority and majority communities concerning their rights and issues related to access to justice in both official languages.

Activities/Projects

Projects of interest include those that:

• Promote awareness, information and training about language rights and issues related to access to justice in both official languages;
• Develop linguistic and legal tools;
• Disseminate linguistic and legal tools;
• Undertake research to the benefit of official language minority communities;
• Provide justice services to official language minority communities as pilot projects;
• Promote activities related to the Justice Training Component:
  • Provide advance training focusing on legal terminology for bilingual justice professionals
  • Contribute to the development of a curriculum for bilingual students interested in pursuing a career in the field of justice
  • Elaborate a  recruitment strategy and the promotion of justice-related careers
  • Develop linguistic training tools.

Who is eligible?

• Canadian non-profit organizations
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments, including associated Crown corporations.
• Canadian institutions/boards of education, including Centres for jurilinguistics.

Individuals are not eligible.

Points to Consider

The Department will only consider providing funding for activities related to public legal education and information and/or awareness when the recipient has confirmed funding (financial and/or in-kind) from other sources and will take this amount into consideration when determining the contribution amount.

The Department will only consider providing funding for activities having an impact on provincial/territorial administration of justice when the recipient has confirmed funding (financial and/or in-kind) from provincial/territorial government and will take this amount into consideration when determining the contribution amount.

Project funding can be, and often is, accessed in conjunction with other departmental program funding. Applications will be reviewed carefully to determine linkages to other initiatives/programs so that funding can be shared when appropriate.

As funds are limited, it is not possible to fund all projects that meet the eligibility criteria. Projects that demonstrate that they can best meet the information needs of the Department will be given priority consideration.

How to Apply

To submit a request for funding, we suggest that you complete the Application/Proposal Form: HTML / PDF Format (106 kb, PDF Help) / Word Format (118 kb).

This form, once completed, contains all the necessary information to allow us to fully assess the merits of the proposal.

We suggest that you refer to the guide entitled "How to Apply for Funding - A Guide to Preparing a Proposal” before completing your application. The guide provides detailed information on all the items that you are required to address in the application form.

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.

Send the application form by:

mail to:
Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street, 6th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H8

fax at 613 941-2269; or
e-mail at pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca

Contact Information

Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
284 Wellington Street, 6th floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8

Telephone: 613 957-4452
Fax: 613 941-2269
E-mail: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca