Departmental Plan 2018-19
The original version was signed by
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Table of Contents
ISSN 2292-4930
Planned results: what we want to achieve this year and beyond
- Planned spending
- Planned human resources
- Estimates by vote
- Future-Oriented Condensed Statement of Operations
- Corporate information
- Supporting information on the Program Inventory
- Supplementary information tables
- Federal tax expenditures
- Organizational contact information
Registrar's message
I am pleased to present the 2018-19 Departmental Plan for the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (‘Office’).
Our 2018-19 Departmental Plan provides parliamentarians and Canadians with information on what we do and the results which we are aiming to achieve during the 2018-19 fiscal year.
In addition to the above, we are committed to providing transparency on how taxpayers’ dollars will be spent. We also describe in our report our programs and services for Canadians, our priorities for 2018-19, and how our work will fulfill our organizational priorities.
The Office has a deep appreciation for the importance and role of the Supreme Court of Canada (‘Court’). As defined by its Core Responsibility statement, i.e. “The Administration of Canada’s final court of appeal”, the Office provides services and support for Canada’s final court of appeal to process, hear and decide cases. It also supports communications and outreach to various stakeholders.
The core work of the Office continues to be the processing and management of all cases brought to the Court. The environment and context in which the Court manages and decides cases is continuously evolving, which in turn produces new risks and challenges.
In 2018-19, the Office will continue to place a high priority on pursuing its work towards the adaptation of its business processes to an electronic environment, with a view to continuously improving electronic access to the Court’s case files and information, both for internal use by the Court as well as by the public and litigants.
Other ongoing initiatives include further enhancements to the Court’s overall security services which aim to balance the safety of all participants in the judicial process, as well as the basic principles of fairness, access and openness which underpin the administration of justice. As well, in order to meet the pressures relating to the aging Court building and operational facilities, significant time and resources have been (and will continue to be) dedicated to long term planning for a building rehabilitation initiative. Finally, efforts will also be dedicated to ensuring effective communication and outreach activities in support of the Court’s evolving role and increased public interest in the Court’s cases.
I wish to conclude by thanking the entire staff of the Court for their continuing hard work and enthusiasm in serving the Court and Canadians with unfailing professionalism and a dedicated sense of purpose.
Roger Bilodeau, Q.C.
Plans at a glance
In support of the achievement of the Office’s planned results for 2018-19, the following are the key priorities for the Office:
Business Transformation
An ongoing priority of the Office is its business transformation initiative which ensures that the necessary business processes and technologies are in place – or being planned - to enable the electronic processing of cases, thereby allowing parties to access case file documents, data and information online (based on their entitlements), as well as providing the public with better access to Court information online, enabling litigants to file documents electronically through the development of a secure portal, and protecting and preserving archival and historical information in electronic format.
In support of this priority, the following key initiatives were undertaken by the Office and will continue in 2018-19. These include:
- business process mapping and the analysis of potential efficiencies;
- the development of new case management requirements to support current and future-related processes;
- the transition to electronic-based operations to gain efficiencies in document collaboration and public dissemination of judgments, orders or information;
- finalizing the renewalof the application architecture of critical enterprise systems to be in a better position to achieve transformational objectives and improving interoperability; and
- finalizing the requirements and beginning the design phase for the electronic filing portal as well as exploring the preservation and archiving of digital records.
As such, business processes will be optimized and based on new technology, duplication of effort and process redundancies will have been eliminated, and operational efficiencies will benefit staff and the Canadian public.
Communications and Outreach
Increasing public and stakeholders’ awareness of the Court is a priority for the Office. As such, the Office will continue to dedicate resources aimed at ensuring its communication and outreach strategies remain effective and continue to meet the evolving needs of Canadians.
Security and facilities management
Due to the sensitive nature of the Court’s business and its high level profile as the court of last resort in Canada’s judicial branch of government, it is essential to continue enhancing the Court’s security profile which has many components, such as physical security, information technology security and business continuity planning. Security enhancements, which are expected to reach their full operational level by 2021, include:
- the continued update of the security policy framework and operations in line with emerging trends;
- the renewal of governance arrangements with the RCMP; and
- the continuation of physical and IT security investments.
As the Office prepares for a building rehabilitation initiative, resources will be dedicated over the short and long term to ensure that pressures related to the aging Court building and operational facilities are managed effectively. In collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada, work has commenced on the long term planning for the building rehabilitation.
For more information on the Office’s plans, priorities and planned results, see the “Planned results” section of this report.
Planned results: what we want to achieve this year and beyond
Core Responsibility
The administration of Canada’s final court of appeal
Description
Provide services and support for Canada’s final court of appeal to process, hear and decide cases. Support communications and outreach to stakeholders.
Planning highlights
In support of its Core Responsibility, the focus of the Office’s work continues to be the processing and management of all cases brought to the Court. The Court has a consistent record of meeting its objectives in processing cases without delay, providing effective access to Court services and case management, including reference information, and providing reliable courtroom services. At the same time, the Office strives continuously to maintain stakeholder satisfaction and high standards of service quality.
To meet the challenges of continuing to provide excellent services and case management to the Court and parties in an environment of escalating costs and added pressures such as physical and IT security, the focus on business transformation will continue. In the upcoming year, the Business Transformation initiative will continue to direct resources to the renewal of the application architecture to better support enhancements to the electronic processing of cases, implementation of digital recordkeeping, workflow enhancements and the development of policies and new software applications along with operational guidelines to support efficient Court processes and to further clarify internal business processes.
The amendments to the Rules of the Supreme Court of Canada, ineffect as of January 1, 2017, have expanded the number of documents that can be filed in electronic form, which has reduced the requirement to file paper copies of other documents and decreased the number of copies filed in paper format for others. This paves the way to introducing greater efficiencies in the processing of various documents and in overall Court operations.
Category | Projected workload |
---|---|
Leave applications filed | 515 |
Leave applications submitted to the Court | 515 |
Appeals as of right filed | 15 |
Appeals heard | 70 |
Judgments | 70 |
As the public’s interest in the Court’s cases increases and as a result of the growing visibility of the SCC judges in Canada and abroad, the Office must support the Court by ensuring effective communication strategies and maintaining its outreach activities. The Office will continue to update the Court’s website to facilitate access to Court information and its proceedings. The Office will also continue its efforts to increase its presence on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Efforts are also dedicated to enhancing the Court’s overall security posture which encompasses both physical and IT security. Investments continue to be made to ensure that security vulnerabilities are addressed. These enhanced measures will ultimately ensure that cases can proceed without any disruptions, that legal information is safeguarded and that the well-being of all parties involved is protected. In 2018-19, these enhanced security measures will represent the third consecutive year of a five-year investment.
Finally, as part of the long term planning of the building rehabilitation, efforts are dedicated to ensuring that resources are in place to manage the pressures related to the aging building facilities.
The Office, like any other department, is faced with risks. These are regularly assessed and involve primarily IT and physical security and aging legacy systems. Information on the risks affecting the achievement of the results for the Office’s Core Responsibility, as well as information pertaining to the operating context is available on the Office’s website.
Departmental Results | Departmental Result Indicators |
Target | Date to achieve target | 2014–15 Actual results |
2015–16 Actual results |
2016–17 Actual results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Judges and parties are supported through effective court services and case management | Average number of weeks between application for permission to appeal filed and application submitted for decision | 12 weeks | March 31, 2019 |
11 weeks | 13 weeks | 10 weeks |
Average number of weeks between date permission to appeal granted and hearing | 35 weeks | March 31, 2019 Frequency: Annually |
34 weeks | 31 weeks | 34 weeks | |
Percent of parties that were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with Registry services | 95% | March 31, 2019 Frequency: Annually |
100% | 92% | 100% | |
Public and stakeholders’ awareness of the Court is increased through effective communication and outreach | Annual percentage increase in the number of unique visitors to Court web information | 5% increase per year | March 31, 2019 Frequency: Annually |
10% | -4% | 30% |
Annual percentage increase in the number of social media followers | 5% increase per year | March 31, 2019 Frequency: Annually |
N/A | N/A | 102% | |
Percent of visitors that were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the Tour Program | 95% | March 31, 2019 Frequency: Annually |
99% | 99% | 99% |
The Office strives to continuously meet its targets and utilizes the information it gathers from past results to constantly strengthen its future work and results. As part of the transition to the Departmental Results Framework, these indicators are new, for the most part. Accordingly, past actual results have been included, where available.
2018–19 Main Estimates |
2018–19 Planned spending |
2019–20 Planned spending |
2020–21 Planned spending |
---|---|---|---|
24,406,830 | 24,406,830 | 24,215,920 | 24,401,441 |
2018–19 Planned full-time equivalents |
2019–20 Planned full-time equivalents |
2020–21 Planned full-time equivalents |
---|---|---|
156 | 152 | 147 |
Financial, human resources and performance information for the Office’s Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.
Internal Services
Description
Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization.
Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct service categories that support Program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. The 10 service categories are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; and Acquisition Services.
2018–19 Main Estimates |
2018–19 Planned spending |
2019–20 Planned spending |
2020–21 Planned spending |
---|---|---|---|
10,629,019 | 10,629,019 | 10,575,605 | 10,720,247 |
2018–19 Planned full-time equivalents |
2019–20 Planned full-time equivalents |
2020–21 Planned full-time equivalents |
---|---|---|
72 | 72 | 72 |
Planning highlights
Internal services support the Court by providing timely and responsive services that are effective and efficient as per established service standards. Some key initiatives planned for 2018-19 are:
- Continued improvements to the security and IT security initiatives, including policies, operating procedures and practices, equipment upgrades, as well as training and awareness.
- Ongoing efforts aimed at improving and strengthening key internal controls within the organization.
- Increased focus of Human Resources (HR) efforts on knowledge transfer/succession planning, more specifically to better identify essential positions and opportunities to streamline services.
- An increased presence of the Court on select social media applications, as well as updating the Court’s website and maintaining its outreach activities.
- The Information Technology Branch is an integral part of the Court’s business as a partner and enabler in supporting the Business Transformation initiative. Priorities for 2018-19 include:
- Continuing current efforts aimed at upgrading key legacy business applications and IT infrastructure components.
- Striving for greater interoperability between new and older systems and focus on getting the most out of the investments made in technologies over the last few years.
- Continuing to enhance the Court’s IT Security posture.
- The Library and Information Management Branch supports the information management needs of the organization. Priorities for 2018-19 include:
- Continuing the implementation of GCDocs across the organization to better manage the Court’s administrative information and closed case files.
- Enhancing the capacity of information management employees to support business units, modernize processes, and maximize the use of implemented technologies.
- Ensuring that the Office is able to meet its obligations under the Treasury Board Secretariat’s information management policies.
Spending and human resources
Planned spending
Departmental spending trend graph
Description of image
Spending Trend: This graph illustrates the spending trend for actual spending from 2015-16 and 2016-17, forecast spending for 2017-18, and planned spending from 2018-19 to 2020-21. Financial figures are presented in dollars and broken down by statutory and voted items.
Actual Spending indicates the amounts the Department spent: In 2015-16, $10,524,153 for statutory items and $21,815,595 for voted items, totalling $32,339,748; and in 2016-17, $10,165,452 for statutory items and $23,513,974 for voted items, totalling $33,679,426.
Forecast Spending indicates the amount the Department is forecasting to spend in 2017-18: $9,966,489 for statutory items and $26,571,032 for voted items, totalling of $36,537,521.
Planned Spending indicates the amounts the Department is planning to spend: In 2018-19, $10,515,324 for statutory items and $24,520,525 for voted items, totalling $35,035,849; in 2019-20, $10,383,475 for statutory items and $24,408,050 for voted items, totalling of $34,791,525; and in 2020-21, $10,349,012 for statutory items and $24,772,676 for voted items, totalling $35,121,688.
Core Responsibilities and Internal Services | 2015–16 Expenditures |
2016–17 Expenditures |
2017–18 Forecast spending |
2018–19 Main Estimates |
---|---|---|---|---|
The administration of Canada’s final court of appeal | 23,425,106 | 23,170,111 | 24,253,014 | 24,406,830 |
Internal Services | 8,914,642 | 10,509,315 | 12,284,507 | 10,629,019 |
Total | 32,339,748 | 33,679,426 | 36,537,521 | 35,035,849 |
Core Responsibilities and Internal Services | 2018–19 Planned spending |
2019–20 Planned spending |
2020–21 Planned spending |
---|---|---|---|
The administration of Canada’s final court of appeal | 24,406,830 | 24,215,920 | 24,401,441 |
Internal Services | 10,629,019 | 10,575,605 | 10,720,247 |
Total | 35,035,849 | 34,791,525 | 35,121,688 |
The Office’s spending trend remains fairly stable. The increase between 2015-16 and 2016-17 expenditures is mainly attributable to new funding received for security enhancements. The 2017-18 increase is essentially due to retroactive compensation adjustments and revised rates of pay.
Planned human resources
Core Responsibilities and Internal Services | 2015–16 Actual |
2016–17 Actual |
2017–18 Forecast |
2018–19 Planned |
2019–20 Planned |
2020–21 Planned |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The administration of Canada’s final court of appeal | 136 | 137 | 148 | 156 | 152 | 147 |
Internal Services | 65 | 67 | 69 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
Total | 201 | 204 | 217 | 228 | 224 | 219 |
The fluctuation in FTEs is mainly related to term positions.
Estimates by vote
For information on the Office’s organizational appropriations, consult the 2018–19 Main Estimates.
Future-Oriented Condensed Statement of Operations
The Future-Oriented Condensed Statement of Operations provides a general overview of the Office’s operations. The forecast of financial information on expenses and revenues is prepared on an accrual accounting basis to strengthen accountability and to improve transparency and financial management.
Because the Future-Oriented Condensed Statement of Operations is prepared on an accrual accounting basis, and the forecast and planned spending amounts presented in other sections of the Departmental Plan are prepared on an expenditure basis, amounts may differ.
A more detailed Future-Oriented Statement of Operations and associated notes, including a reconciliation of the net cost of operations to the requested authorities, are available on the Court’s website.
Financial information | 2017–18 Forecast results |
2018–19 Planned results |
Difference (2018–19 Planned results minus 2017–18 Forecast results) |
---|---|---|---|
Total expenses | 43,540,737 | 42,727,809 | (812,928) |
Total revenues | 330 | 3,074 | 2,744 |
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers | 43,540,407 | 42,724,735 | (815,672) |
The decrease in forecasted expenditures from 2017-18 to 2018-19 is mainly due to most collective agreements being signed in 2017-18, resulting in both retroactive payment adjustments and in year rate increases, as well as a decrease in project funding for the security program in 2017-18.
Supplementary information
Corporate information
Organizational profile
Appropriate minister[s]: The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Institutional head: Roger Bilodeau, Q.C.
Ministerial portfolio: Justice
Enabling instrument[s]:
Supreme Court Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. S-26)
Judges Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. J-1)
Year of incorporation / commencement: 1875
Raison d’être, mandate and role
“Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do” is available on the Court’s website.
Operating context and key risks
Information on operating context and key risks is available on the Court’s website.
Reporting framework
The Office’s Departmental Results Framework and Program Inventory of record for 2018–19 are shown below:
Description of image
This table illustrates the Departmental Results Framework (DRF) and Program Inventory of the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada ("Office") for 2018-19. The DRF indicates the organization’s Core Responsibility, Departmental Results, Departmental Results Indicators, and supporting Program Inventory. The DRF also includes the standardized Government of Canada’s Internal Services element, at the Core Responsibility level of the DRF.
The Office has one Core Responsibility – The administration of Canada’s final court of appeal. As well Internal Services, the groups of related activities and resources of the 10 distinct service categories that support Program delivery in the organization are linked at the Core Responsibility level of the DRF.
The DRF is comprised of two Departmental Results: 1) Judges and parties are supported through effective court services and case management; and 2) Public and stakeholders’ awareness of the Court is increased through effective communication and outreach.
The Departmental Results Indicators that apply to the first Departmental Result – Judges and parties are supported through effective court services and case management are: a) the average number of weeks between application for permission to appeal filed and application submitted for decision; b) the average number of weeks between the date permission to appeal is granted and the hearing; and c) the percent of parties that were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with Registry services.
The Departmental Results Indicators that apply to the second Departmental Result - Public and stakeholders’ awareness of the Court is increased through effective communication and outreach are: a) the annual percentage increase in the number of unique visitors to Court web information; b) the annual percentage increase in the number of social media followers; and c) the percent of visitors that were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the Tour Program.
The Office is supported by two programs: 1) Court Administration; and 2) Administration of the Judges Act for the Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Concordance between the Departmental Results Framework and the Program Inventory, 2018–19, and the Program Alignment Architecture, 2017–18
As part of the new Departmental Results Framework, the Office wanted to enhance the understanding of the results that the organization seeks to achieve. In developing the new structure, the Office leveraged existing program information, outcomes and indicators. The program names have been slightly modified. The Office believes that the new framework will help tell a better results story, by clearly articulating what we do, and the results which we are aiming to achieve.
2018–19 Core Responsibilities and Program Inventory | 2017–18 Lowest-level program of the Program Alignment Architecture | Percentage of lowest-level Program Alignment Architecture program (dollars) corresponding to the program in the Program Inventory |
---|---|---|
Program A: Court administration | 1.1.1 Court Operations | 100% |
Program B: Administration of the Judges Act for the Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada | 1.2.1 Payments to Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada Pursuant to the Judges Act | 100% |
Supporting information on the Program Inventory
Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to the Office’s Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.
Supplementary information tables
The following supplementary information tables are available on the Supreme Court of Canada’s website:
Federal tax expenditures
The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs. The tax measures presented in this report are the responsibility of the Minister of Finance.
Organizational contact information
Supreme Court of Canada Building
301 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0J1
General Enquiries
Telephone: 1-888-551-1185
Fax: (613) 996-3063
Email: reception@scc-csc.ca
Roger Bilodeau, Q.C. - Registrar
Telephone: (613) 995-4330
Email: reception@scc-csc.ca
David Power - Deputy Registrar
Telephone: (613) 996-7521
Email: reception@scc-csc.ca
Barbara Kincaid - General Counsel and Director General, Court Operations Sector
Telephone: (613) 996-7721
Email: law-droit@scc-csc.ca
Catherine Laforce - Director General and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services Sector
Telephone: (613) 947-0682
Email: Catherine.Laforce@scc-csc.ca
Michel Gallant - Executive Director, Judicial Support and Protocol Services Sector
Telephone: (613) 996-4841
Email: Michel.Gallant@scc-csc.ca
Appendix: definitions
appropriation (crédit)
Any authority of Parliament to pay money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
budgetary expenditures (dépenses budgétaires)
Operating and capital expenditures; transfer payments to other levels of government, organizations or individuals; and payments to Crown corporations.
Core Responsibility (responsabilité essentielle)
An enduring function or role performed by a department. The intentions of the department with respect to a Core Responsibility are reflected in one or more related Departmental Results that the department seeks to contribute to or influence.
Departmental Plan (plan ministériel)
A report on the plans and expected performance of appropriated departments over a three-year period. Departmental Plans are tabled in Parliament each spring.
Departmental Result (résultat ministériel)
Any change or changes that the department seeks to influence. A Departmental Result is often outside departments’ immediate control, but it should be influenced by Program-level outcomes.
Departmental Result Indicator (indicateur de résultat ministériel)
A factor or variable that provides a valid and reliable means to measure or describe progress on a Departmental Result.
Departmental Results Framework (cadre ministériel des résultats)
The department’s Core Responsibilities, Departmental Results and Departmental Result Indicators.
Departmental Results Report (rapport sur les résultats ministériels)
A report on the actual accomplishments against the plans, priorities and expected results set out in the corresponding Departmental Plan.
experimentation (expérimentation)
Activities that seek to explore, test and compare the effects and impacts of policies, interventions and approaches, to inform evidence-based decision-making, by learning what works and what does not.
full-time equivalent (équivalent temps plein)
A measure of the extent to which an employee represents a full person-year charge against a departmental budget. Full-time equivalents are calculated as a ratio of assigned hours of work to scheduled hours of work. Scheduled hours of work are set out in collective agreements.
gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) (analyse comparative entre les sexes plus [ACS+])
An analytical process used to help identify the potential impacts of policies, Programs and services on diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people. The “plus” acknowledges that GBA goes beyond sex and gender differences to consider multiple identity factors that intersect to make people who they are (such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability).
government-wide priorities (priorités pangouvernementales)
For the purpose of the 2018–19 Departmental Plan, government-wide priorities refers to those high-level themes outlining the government’s agenda in the 2015 Speech from the Throne, namely: Growth for the Middle Class; Open and Transparent Government; A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy; Diversity is Canada's Strength; and Security and Opportunity.
horizontal initiative (initiative horizontale)
An initiative in which two or more federal organizations, through an approved funding agreement, work toward achieving clearly defined shared outcomes, and which has been designated (by Cabinet, a central agency, etc.) as a horizontal initiative for managing and reporting purposes.
non-budgetary expenditures (dépenses non budgétaires)
Net outlays and receipts related to loans, investments and advances, which change the composition of the financial assets of the Government of Canada.
performance (rendement)
What an organization did with its resources to achieve its results, how well those results compare to what the organization intended to achieve, and how well lessons learned have been identified.
performance indicator (indicateur de rendement)
A qualitative or quantitative means of measuring an output or outcome, with the intention of gauging the performance of an organization, program, policy or initiative respecting expected results.
performance reporting (production de rapports sur le rendement)
The process of communicating evidence-based performance information. Performance reporting supports decision making, accountability and transparency.
planned spending (dépenses prévues)
For Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, planned spending refers to those amounts presented in the Main Estimates.
A department is expected to be aware of the authorities that it has sought and received. The determination of planned spending is a departmental responsibility, and departments must be able to defend the expenditure and accrual numbers presented in their Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports.
plan (plan)
The articulation of strategic choices, which provides information on how an organization intends to achieve its priorities and associated results. Generally a plan will explain the logic behind the strategies chosen and tend to focus on actions that lead up to the expected result.
priority (priorité)
A plan or project that an organization has chosen to focus and report on during the planning period. Priorities represent the things that are most important or what must be done first to support the achievement of the desired Departmental Results.
Program (programme)
Individual or groups of services, activities or combinations thereof that are managed together within the department and focus on a specific set of outputs, outcomes or service levels.
Program Alignment Architecture (architecture d’alignement des programmes)
A structured inventory of an organization’s programs depicting the hierarchical relationship between programs and the Strategic Outcome(s) to which they contribute.
result (résultat)
An external consequence attributed, in part, to an organization, policy, program or initiative. Results are not within the control of a single organization, policy, program or initiative; instead they are within the area of the organization’s influence.
statutory expenditures (dépenses législatives)
Expenditures that Parliament has approved through legislation other than appropriation acts. The legislation sets out the purpose of the expenditures and the terms and conditions under which they may be made.
- Date modified: