In 2018–19, CAS achieved the following major results as part of the organization’s mission to provide timely and accurate judicial, registry, and corporate services to the Courts and their clients.
Following the receipt of program integrity funding in Budget 2018, efforts were deployed in 2018–19 to staff priority positions in registry and judicial services across the Courts. This allowed CAS to restore its service delivery capacity following several years of financial constraints in the face of an increasing workload for the Courts in terms of number and complexity of cases brought forward. The positions staffed, provided much needed resources to effectively support the Courts’ business.
CAS was successful in obtaining funding in 2018–19 for priority initiatives essential to the effective long‑term operations of the Courts and the provision of access to justice for Canadians. Budget 2019 allocated $8.5 million over five years beginning in 2019–20 and $1.7 million ongoing to increase capacity to translate Court decisions, as well as $24 million over five years to assist in the relocation of the federal courthouse in Montréal. Additionally, CAS continued its efforts to secure funding to support the development, implementation and operation of a modern CRMS to replace legacy technologies currently used to manage the business of the Courts and their registries.
CAS assisted the Federal Court with the redesign and reconfiguration of its website in 2018–19. The new website has a more user-friendly interface and updated content to help legal counsel, self-represented litigants and the public to easily find the necessary information they require to bring actions forward and to navigate proceedings. The Federal Court of Appeal, the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada and the Tax Court of Canada are in the process of updating their websites.
Five new e-courtrooms were constructed in 2018–19, with four located in Toronto and one in Montréal. These courtrooms are equipped with a variety of information technology infrastructure — including videoconferencing, digital screens, computer workstations, network and Internet connectivity, and digital audio recording systems — that provides valuable and modern electronic support for court proceedings and hearings.
CAS continued to advance its efforts to adopt modern information management principles, practices and standards with the roll-out of a new document management system for its corporate services. This system utilizes the GCdocs platform, which is the Government of Canada’s solution for information management. It is anticipated this system will be deployed to other operational areas and regional offices in the future.
To ensure it can continue to provide critical services during any type of emergency or incident, CAS undertook a review of its Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and Emergency Management Plans (EMP) in 2018–19. For CAS, having BCPs and EMPs in place is integral to the continuity of constitutional government and the administration of justice permitting the Courts to carry on operations and offering Canadians uninterrupted access to justice.
Following the results of the 2017 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) an Action Plan was developed to implement initiatives that would bring improvements to the workplace and work environment. Implementation of the Action Plan was a success, with 75% of all items completed in the Plan’s first year. The effect of measures undertaken was evident in the 2018 PSES results with improvements seen across the board.
The current funding model for the Courts provides for budgetary requirements to be submitted to the Minister of Finance through the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Since the Attorney General of Canada is the most frequent litigant appearing before the Courts, the Chief Justices of the Courts believe a new funding model is required in order to safeguard judicial independence and address the existing perception and the perceived reliance of the judiciary on the executive branch of government.
Within this context, in 2018–19, the Chief Administrator consulted with the Chief Justices to discuss potential new funding models and retained the services of a consultant to assist in this process. After careful deliberation, the Chief Justices have endorsed for consideration, a new proposed model. Discussions with central agencies and the Courts will continue during the upcoming fiscal year.
In 2018–19 CAS established an ombudsperson position for the organization. The ombudsperson provides a safe, impartial space, for employees to discuss a variety of topics such as career, mental health, interpersonal conflict, stress and other workplace issues in a confidential setting. This reinforces a workplace culture that focuses on values, respect, teamwork, fairness, civility, responsibility and accountability.