Annual Report 2018 –19
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Justice and Solicitor General Annual Report 2018 –19 Note to Readers: Copies of the annual report are available on the Alberta Open Government Portal website www.alberta.ca Justice and Solicitor General Communications 5th floor, Bowker Building Phone: 780-427-0900 9833 - 109 Street Fax: 780-422-7363 Edmonton, AB T5K 2E8 ISBN: 978-1-4601-4382-7 (Print) ISBN: 978-1-4601-4383-4 (PDF online) ISSN: 2371-2244 (Print) ISSN: 2371-2252 (PDF online) Copyright © 2019 The President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance and its licensors. All rights reserved. Table of Contents Preface ................................................................................................................... 2 Message from the Minister ................................................................................... 3 Management’s Responsibility for Reporting ...................................................... 4 Results Analysis.................................................................................................... 6 Ministry Overview .................................................................................................................... 7 Key Factors Influencing Performance ................................................................................... 12 Discussion and Analysis of Results ...................................................................................... 13 Outcome One ........................................................................................................................ 13 Outcome Two ........................................................................................................................ 22 Outcome Three ..................................................................................................................... 27 Outcome Four ....................................................................................................................... 38 Performance Measure and Indicator Methodology .............................................................. 46 Financial Information ............................................................................................ 53 Ministry Financial Highlights ............................................................................................... 56 Statement of Revenues and Expenses (unaudited) ......................................................... 56 Revenues and Expenses Highlights .................................................................................. 56 Supplemental Financial Information ................................................................................... 62 Financial Statements of Other Reporting Entities............................................................ 63 Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund ............................................................ 64 Victims of Crime Fund ........................................................................................................... 81 Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Estates and Trusts ............................................ 102 Other Financial Information ................................................................................. 126 Statement of Compromises and Write-Offs (unaudited) ..................................................... 127 Civil Law Legal Services Delivery (unaudited) ..................................................................... 128 Fine Activity Information (unaudited) .................................................................................... 129 Statement of Credit or Recovery (unaudited) ................................................................... 130 Lapse/Encumbrance (unaudited) ........................................................................................ 131 Payments Based on Agreements (unaudited) .................................................................. 133 Annual Report Extracts and Other Statutory Reports ....................................... 134 Introduction Preface The Public Accounts of Alberta are prepared in accordance with the Financial Administration Act and the Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act. The Public Accounts consist of the annual report of the Government of Alberta and the annual reports of each of the 21 ministries. The annual report of the Government of Alberta contain, the consolidated financial statements of the province and the Measuring Up report, which compares actual performance results to desired results set out in the government’s strategic plan. This annual report of the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General contains the financial information of the ministry and a comparison of actual performance results to desired results set out in the ministry business plan. This ministry annual report also includes: • the financial statements of entities making up the ministry including the Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund, the Victims of Crime Fund, for which the minister is responsible; • the financial statements of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, Estates and Trusts for which the minister is responsible; • other financial information as required by the Financial Administration Act and Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act, either as separate reports or as a part of the financial statements, to the extent that the ministry has anything to report; and, • financial information relating to trust funds. In December 2018, government announced changes to the 2018-19 ministry annual reports. Ministry and department audited financial statements, previously included in the annual report of the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General, have been replaced with the financial information of the ministry found starting on page 54. Key information previously contained in the annual reports, of each of the 21 ministries, is now included in the audited consolidated financial statements of the province. 2 Justice and Solicitor General | Annual Report 2018–19 Introduction Message from the Minister Over the past 12 months, Justice and Solicitor General continued to fulfill its mission of keeping our communities safe and secure, and ensuring Albertans have access to a fair and responsive justice system. This ministry has a large and capable team, and the achievements described in this report are a testament to their hard work. Our first duty continues to be protecting public safety. Albertans remain concerned about rising crime rates, and the justice system’s capacity for dealing with these offences. These concerns are particularly acute in rural areas of the province, where isolated properties can be a prime target for thefts. By allocating new funding to address child exploitation and domestic violence, to hire Crown prosecutors and civilian employees, and to support strategies that enable frontline officers to spend more time in the field, we can better protect vulnerable Albertans. We will also seek out how best to prosecute cases more quickly and reduce court backlogs. My thanks to the ministry staff for the commitment and professionalism they have shown during the past year. Similarly, I appreciate all our partners across the justice and law enforcement system, who do outstanding work under often difficult and dangerous circumstances. I am confident that together we can find innovative and fiscally responsible ways to address the challenges facing us. [Original Signed By] Honourable Doug Schweitzer Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Justice and Solicitor General | Annual Report 2018–19 3 Introduction Management’s Responsibility for Reporting The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General includes the Department of Justice and Solicitor General, the Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund, and the Victims of Crime Fund. The executives of the individual entities within the ministry have the primary responsibility and accountability for the respective entities. Collectively, the executives ensure the ministry complies with all relevant legislation, regulations, and policies. Ministry business plans, annual reports, performance results and the supporting management information are integral to the government’s fiscal and strategic plan, annual report, quarterly reports, and other financial and performance reporting. Responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of consolidated financial statements and performance results for the ministry rests with the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. Under the direction of the minister, I oversee the preparation of the ministry’s annual report, including the financial information and performance results. The financial information and performance results, of necessity, include amounts that are based on estimates and judgments. The financial information is prepared using the government’s stated accounting policies, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards. The performance measures are prepared in accordance with the following criteria: Reliability – information used in applying performance measure methodologies agrees with the underlying source data for the current and prior years’ results. Understandability – the performance measure methodologies and results are presented clearly. Comparability – the methodologies for performance measure preparation are applied consistently for the current and prior years’ results. Completeness – outcomes, performance measures and related targets match those included in the ministry’s Budget 2018. As deputy minister, in addition to program