In 2019–20, 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.
CAS successfully obtained funding in 2019–20 for a new Courts and Registry Management System (CRMS). In-year funding of $54 million over five years and $6.7 million ongoing was accorded to CAS. While significant progress was made, CAS had to extend the project definition phase to the middle of 2021 to allow more time for critical planning activities.
To ensure its facilities meet the Courts’ current and evolving requirements, CAS completed its latest iteration of the National Accommodation Strategic Plan (NASP). Based on the most recent analysis of the Courts and CAS’s accommodations requirements, the NASP outlines a strategic approach to guide decisions related to the special purpose accommodations required by the Courts and CAS and to support their long-term needs over the next ten years. Additionally, the NASP will assist CAS in delivering its facilities program in a more efficient and cost effective manner, in collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).
CAS completed a national threat and risk assessment (TRA) of the federal courts system in 2019–20. The TRA identified emerging threats and potential risks to the Courts and CAS. It also assessed the effectiveness and continued adequacy of security measures implemented since the last national TRA in 2013. Findings from the TRA will guide CAS in adjusting its proactive stance to deliver the security level required for the judiciary, employees and court users to operate within a safe and secure environment.
To support employees’ progress with their career development, CAS launched the My CAS Career portal on its Intranet. This portal serves as a comprehensive resource for employees to access information for every step of their career path. It contains tools and resources related to the onboarding of new employees and on professional development to acquire new knowledge and skills. The portal also includes tools on off boarding to facilitate employees’ transition to a new workplace or retirement.
Late in the 2019–20 fiscal year, Canada was in the grip of the global novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At this unprecedented time, CAS took swift action to enable continued access to justice for Canadians while protecting the health and safety of members of the Courts, CAS employees, counsel, litigants and the public. To minimize the risk of exposure in the workplace, CAS enacted its Business Continuity Plan where only essential staff were asked to report on site to maintain critical operations; all other employees were directed to use a flexible work arrangement or to work remotely where possible. The Courts also issued practice directions to suspend regular operations temporarily, postpone in-person hearings, and where possible, to conduct hearings via teleconference and video conference. Registry operations continued with limited staff, and where in-person filling was not required, the electronic submission of court documents was encouraged.