NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Department of Justice (Canada)

The purpose of the Department of Justice is to ensure that the Canadian justice system is fair, accessible and efficient. The Department also represents the Canadian government in legal matters. Almost all lawyers in the federal government are employed by Justice and are dispatched to manage the legal affairs of the other departments and agencies. J.L. Urban, statue of Lady Justice at court building in Olomouc, Czech Republic Justice concerns the proper ordering of things and persons within a society. ...

The headquarters of the Department of Justice is located at 275 Sparks Street. Sparks Street at Bank Street Sparks Street is a street in downtown Ottawa, Canada that was converted into an outdoor pedestrian street in 1966, making it the earliest such street or mall in Canada. ...

The current Minister of Justice (and Attorney General) is Rob Nicholson. The Minister of Justice (French: Ministre de la Justice) of Canada is the minister in the Cabinet of Canada who is responsible for the Department of Justice and is also Attorney General of Canada. ... The Attorney General of Canada is the top prosecuting officer in Canada. ... For the musician, better known as Blasko, see Rob Nicholson (musician). ...

History of the Department

Former Ministers of Justice include: Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 713 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolution (1004 Ã— 844 pixel, file size: 554 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author: en:User:Sherurcij Description: Entrance to the Canadian Department of Justice building in Ottawa Source: Uploaded as en:Image:Dept Just Can. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 713 Ã— 599 pixelsFull resolution (1004 Ã— 844 pixel, file size: 554 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author: en:User:Sherurcij Description: Entrance to the Canadian Department of Justice building in Ottawa Source: Uploaded as en:Image:Dept Just Can. ...

At the time of Confederation, the province of Canada had two Crown Law Departments, one for Canada West (now Ontario) and one for Canada East (now Quebec). At Confederation, the Crown Law Department, Canada West began to act as the new Department of Justice, reporting to Sir John A. Macdonald, who was Minister of Justice and Attorney General as well as the new Prime Minister. The Crown Law Department, Canada East became the new Department of the Militia, following its former Attorney General, Georges-Étienne Cartier. Irwin Cotler, PC , MP , OC , BA , BCL , LL.D , Ph. ... There are several notable individuals named Robert Kaplan, among them: Robert D. Kaplan, a travel writer, essayist, and international correspondent for The Atlantic; author of Balkan Ghosts, The Coming Anarchy, Warrior Politics, and numerous other books about culture, international relations, and liberal democracy Robert P. Bob Kaplan, a Canadian Liberal... Joseph Jacques Jean ChrÃ©tien, usually known as Jean ChrÃ©tien, PC, QC, BA, BCL, LLD (h. ... For other uses, see Pierre Elliott Trudeau (disambiguation). ... A confederation is an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution. ... The Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, QC (January 11, 1815 - June 6, 1891) was the first Prime Minister of Canada from July 1, 1867 - November 5, 1873 - and - October 17, 1878 - June 6, 1891. ...

The Department of Justice came into being officially in May 1868, when the Department of Justice Act was passed by Parliament. The Act formally recognized the informal structure that was already in place. The Act also laid out the distinct roles of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General: the Minister was a partisan political adviser to the Crown, while the Attorney General provided legal services.

The new Department of Justice had only seven staff: two barristers-at-law (including the Deputy Minister, Hewitt Bernard), a clerk and shorthand writer (Macdonald's personal secretary), a copy clerk, a clerk articling under Macdonald, and two messengers.

The legal branch of the Department remained relatively small for many years. As late as 1939, the Department employed only seven lawyers. The Department's first woman lawyer, Henrietta Bourque, was hired in 1939, but the Department still remained heavily male-dominated. In the 25 years between 1939 and 1964, only five female lawyers were hired by the Department.

Although the Department of Justice Act had given the Department responsibility for all litigation for or against the government, many government departments hired their own lawyers to provide them with legal advice. In 1962, however, these departmental lawyers were brought together in a common legal service. Although many lawyers still work closely with other government departments in Department Legal Services Units, they are now considered to be employees of the Department of Justice.

Regional Offices were opened in Montreal (1965), Toronto (1966), Vancouver (1967), Winnipeg (1969) and Halifax, as well as in Edmonton, Saskatoon, and the Northwest Territories.

The Department now employs 5,000 people, nearly half of whom are lawyers, in offices across the country.

Current initiatives

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called for plans to create a Director of Public Prosecution as an independent role to deal with criminal cases involving government and public officials. Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. ... The Director of Public Prosecutions is the officer charged with the prosecution of criminal offences in several criminal jurisdictions around the world. ...

See also

The Supreme Court of Canada (French: Cour suprÃªme du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian justice system. ... The Canadian Criminal Code (formal title An Act respecting the Criminal Law) is the codification of most of the criminal offences and procedure in Canada. ... The Young Offenders Act was a 1984 act of the Parliament of Canada, now obsolete, that regulated the criminal prosecution of Canadian youths. ...

External links

Categories: Canadian federal departments and agencies | Justice ministries The following list outlines the Structure of the Canadian federal government. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada. ... The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also referred to as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing agriculture production, farming income, research and development, inspection, and the regulation of animals and plants. ... The Department of Canadian Heritage, also referred to as Heritage Canada or simply Department of Heritage, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies regarding the arts, culture, media, communications networks, and sports and multiculturalism. ... The Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for issues dealing with immigration and citizenship. ... The Department of Finance in Canada operates under the finance minister. ... The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), also referred to as Fisheries and Oceans Canada (PÃªches et OcÃ©ans Canada), is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for the management and safety of waters under federal jurisdiction. ... The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), more commonly known as Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, is a department in the Government of Canada which has responsibility for foreign policy and diplomacy, as well as import/export and international trade policies. ... The Department of Human Resources and Skills Development, also referred to as Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for providing Canadians with the resources and skills needed for the workplace and their community. ... The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, also referred to as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing First Nations and Canadas three northern territories. ... The Department of National Defence, frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for Canadas military, known as the Canadian Forces. ... Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, legally incorporated as the federal Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for protecting Canadians and helping to maintain a peaceful and safe society. ... Public Works and Government Services Canada, also referred to as Department of Public Works and Government Services, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for the governments internal servicing and administration. ... The Department of Social Development, also referred to as Social Development Canada, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for developing and implementing social policies involving families with children, disabled people, senior citizens and others through a series of programmes and services. ... Prevalent image on VAC posters during 2005, the Year of the Veteran. ...

Contents

History of the Department GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Current initiatives

See also

External links

History of the Department