It is my pleasure to present the Courts Administration Service 2020-2021 Annual Report. The report highlights the achievements of the Courts Administration Service (CAS) over the past fiscal year providing judicial, registry and administrative services to the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA), the Federal Court (FC), the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada (CMAC) and the Tax Court of Canada (TCC) collectively the "Courts"- in support of the delivery of justice to all Canadians.

The past year presented great challenges to court operations and court administrations worldwide. When I began my mandate in December 2020, the country was in the midst of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Courts continuously having to adapt to new realities. I am immensely proud of CAS and all its employees who delivered timely, innovative an+d effective services, both virtually and in-person throughout the pandemic, while at the same time turning these challenges into unique opportunities for improved service delivery.

Our work not only made certain the Courts remained open during the pandemic, but also positively contributed to Canada's justice system by ensuring continued access to justice for all Canadians. We implemented robust, multi-layered, health and safety measures in all our court facilities and courtrooms across Canada to safely support in-person appearances, and delivered digital solutions for the conduct of virtual and hybrid hearings. Providing uninterrupted access to justice throughout the pandemic is a testament to the exemplary dedication, resilience, and agility of our highly skilled and talented employees.

In responding to the pandemic, CAS staff rethought how we deliver our services, perform our work, and serve the Courts and Canadians. During the year, the move to virtual operations accelerated the implementation of information technology infrastructure and systems crucial for digital courts, as well as the electronic management of court business. We expanded our e- court capacity, enhanced the e-filing capabilities of the Courts and accelerated the digitization of Court documents. We also advanced our multi-year project to implement a new digital Courts and Registry Management System, built two new fully digitally equipped courtrooms and advanced plans for the construction of a modern, equipped and accessible federal courthouse in Montréal. I am confident that lessons learned will help us seize future opportunities to further modernize and improve access to justice in the future.

It is a very exciting time to be working with the Courts. Looking to the future, we will build on the innovations we implemented in response to the pandemic as we move forward with sustainable solutions that address some of the longstanding challenges in the justice system. We will continue to improve the quality and timeliness of our services, serve the Courts with excellence and support the delivery of justice for all Canadians.

I am grateful for the close collaboration of the Chief Justices, the Associate Chief Justices, and all members of the Courts, whose partnership is instrumental to our continued success.

Darlene H. Carreau LL.B.
Chief Administrator