Department of Justice Canada Minister's Transition Book

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Federal-Provincial-Territorial Justice Relations

Justice FPT Environment

The meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety is an environment where ministers and deputy ministers work collaboratively on issues that address the concerns of Canadian citizens. There is a long-standing tradition of working cooperatively to meet the needs of all jurisdictions. The forum is attended by federal, provincial and territorial ministers of Justice, Public Safety and Corrections, attorneys general, and those having responsibilities for youth justice.

Annual Meeting of FPT Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety

This meeting, held once or twice a year, allows ministers to discuss justice and public safety issues and priorities requiring their direction or decision. The last FPT Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety took place in November 2018 in St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Minister of Justice co-chairs the meeting with the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of the province or territory where the meeting is held.

Key topics discussed in the last several ministerial meetings include: Delays in the Criminal Justice System, Mandatory Minimum Penalties, Preliminary Inquiry, Reclassification of Offences, Efficiencies, Cannabis, Impaired Driving, Indigenous Issues and Countering Terrorism.

Bilateral meetings with Ministers

The Minister of Justice meets individually with the provincial and territorial ministers of justice and attorneys general as needed. These meetings are usually at the request of the provincial/territorial minister.

Bi-annual Meeting of FPT Deputy Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety

There are meetings twice a year as well as conference calls at the deputy minister-level to discuss emerging and continuing issues, to review trends and to develop new strategies and approaches.

The last meeting of Deputy Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety was held in June 2018.

FPT Structures

Regular meetings at the officials level support the development of options for deputy minister and ministerial consideration.

Discussions between federal, provincial and territorial governments occur in a variety of structures, including both continuing and time–limited committees. Examples of continuing committees are:

• the Coordinating Committees of Senior Officials (CCSO), Criminal Justice;
• the CCSO, Youth Justice;
• the CCSO, Family;
• the FPT Working Group on Victim Issues;
• the Liaison Officers Committee of the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics; and
• the FPT Permanent Working Group on Legal Aid (PWG).

Some of these committees have sub-committees, usually referred to as working groups. Working groups may be established by deputy ministers or at the suggestion of ministers. Mandates of all working groups and CCSOs are approved by FPT deputy ministers.

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