Department of Justice

Department Overview

Branches

Justice Boards and Committees

AUXILIARY POLICE ADVISORY BOARD
Legislative Authority: Auxiliary Police Act, Section 6(1)
Department: Justice
Function: Advisory. The Board makes recommendations to the Minister and Officer in Charge of "M" Division concerning development of programs to enhance practices, standards and training of officers.
Members: Committee to consist of two persons nominated by theofficer in charge of "M" Division; one person nominated by the Minister; and one person nominated by the auxiliary police.
Appointment/Term: Three years
Meets: As required
Honorarium: Volunteer
Contact: Crime Prevention andPolicing, 667-5962

CRIME PREVENTION AND VICTIM SERVICES TRUST - BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Legislative Authority: Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust Act, Section 5(1); Interpretation Act, Section 3(3)
Department: Justice
Function: This Board manages and controls the Crime Prevention and Victim ServicesTrust Fund.It creates bylaws for the administration of its affairs and establishes the procedure for applications of the funds. The Board considers proposals for funding submitted to it and approves expenditures on those community-based projects which serve the purposes of the Trust Act and places emphasis on the reduction of crime and the prevention of violence against women and children.
Members: Nine members
Appointment/Term: Terms do not exceed three years
Meets: Possibly four to six times a year
Honorarium:
Persons appointed to the Board serve without remuneration, but maybe paid transportation and living expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties away from home.
Contact: Policy and Planning, 667-3508

JUDICIAL COUNCIL
Legislative Authority: Territorial Court Act, Section 17
Department: Justice
Function: The Council makes recommendations respecting appointments of judgesand justices, and deals with formal complaints respecting judges and justices. It makes recommendations respecting the efficiency, uniformity and quality of judicial services provided by the Territorial Court or the Justice of the Peace Court. It also performs other duties requested by the Minister.
Members: The Senior Judge of the Supreme Court, or another Judge of that court nominatedby the Senior Judge. The Chief Judge of the Territorial Court, or another Judge of that court nominated by the Chief Judge. The President of the Justice of the Peace Association, or another Justice nominated by him/ her. Also includes a lawyer and not more than two other persons appointed by Cabinet.
Appointment/Term: Up to three years with respect to appointments made by Cabinet
Meets: Approximately four times a year
Honorarium: Category C
Contact: Director, Court Services 667-5784

LAW SOCIETY OF YUKON (EXECUTIVE)
Legislative Authority: Legal Profession Act, Section 4
Department: Justice
Function: This regulatory Society serves and protects the public interest in the administrationof justice. The Society is NOT a Yukon Government agency but has been included in this handbook because the government appoints one or more members to it.
Members: A minimum of six. Not less than four are elected annually by and from the activemembers of the Society, and two who are not members of the Society are appointed by Cabinet.
Appointment/Term: One year
Meets: Approximately twenty-six times a year
Honorarium: Category A
Contact: Legal Services, 667-5412

LAW SOCIETY OF YUKON (DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE)
Legislative Authority: Legal Profession Act, Section 25
Department: Justice
Function: This adjudicative Committee conducts inquiries/investigations into matters regarding the conduct of a member or a student-at-law. The Committee is NOT a Yukon Government agency but has been included in this handbook because the government appoints one or more members to it.
Members: A minimum of nine. No less than three are active members residing in the Yukon, and no less than three are non-resident members, appointed by the Society Executive. A maximum of three persons who are not members of the Society are appointed by Cabinet.
Appointment/Term: Two years
Meets: As required
Honorarium: Category A
Contact: Legal Services, 667-5412

MEDIATION BOARD
Legislative Authority: Mediation Board Act, Section 2(2)
Department: Justice
Function: The Board acts as arbiter in cases where land is being repossessed for non-payment of taxes under the Assessment and Taxation Act.
Members: One or more
Appointment/Term: No fixed term
Meets: As required
Honorarium: Category C
Contact: Court Services, 667-5784

YUKON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Legislative Authority: Human Rights Act, Section 16(1)
Department: Justice
Function: The Commission administers the Human Rights Act, hears complaints and arrangesfor adjudication if required (see Human Rights Panel of Adjudicators). Promotes and coordinates public education and research programs in the area of human rights. (The Commission reports directly to the Yukon Legislature on all matters concerning human rights.)
Members: Minimum of three members with a maximum of five
Appointment/Term: Three years
Meets: Twelve times a year
Honorarium: The Commission will prescribe remuneration and expenses that will be paid
Contact: Legal Services, 667-5412

YUKON HUMAN RIGHTS PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS
Legislative Authority: Human Rights Act, Section 16
Department: Justice
Function: The Panel adjudicates complaints when asked to do so by the Human Rights Commission.(The Yukon Human Rights Commission and the Yukon Human Rights Panel of Adjudicators act as separate, independent, semi-judicial bodies in assessing and/or addressing human rights complaints.)
Members: Three minimum, one of whom is designated as Chief Adjudicator. When the Human RightsCommission asks that a complaint be adjudicated, the Chief Adjudicator establishes a board of adjudication and determines its membership.
Appointment/Term: Three years
Meets: Ten times a year
Honorarium: Category C
Contact: Legal Services, 667-5412

YUKON LAW FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Legislative Authority: Legal Profession Act, Section 80(1)
Department: Justice
Function: The Foundation maintains and manages funds received from interest on lawyers' trust accounts and Foundation investments. The Foundation is NOT a Yukon government agency but has been included in this handbook because the government appoints one or more members to it.
Members: Six, three of whom are members of the Law Society and are appointed by the Society's Executive and three of whom are appointed by the Minister of Justice.
Appointment/Term: Two years
Meets: Three times a year
Honorarium: Category A
Contact: Legal Services, 667-5412

YUKON LEGAL SERVICES SOCIETY
Legislative Authority: Legal Services Society Act, Section 3
Department: Justice
Function: The Society provides legal services at no charge to those requiring it, and works to increase the public's awareness of law, legal process and justice. It hears appeals of decisions made by the Executive Director. The Society is NOT a Yukon government agency but has been included in this handbook because the government appoints one or more members to it.
Members: Seven members solicited from the Law Society of Yukon, Attorney-General of Canada, Canadian Bar Association and Council of Yukon First Nations.
Appointment/Term: Not exceeding three years
Meets: Approximately eighteen meetings a year
Honorarium:
$100.00 for evening meetings, $50.00 for lunch meeting and travel expenses are paid by Yukon Legal Services Society
Contact: Legal Services, 667-5412

YUKON REVIEW BOARD
Legislative Authority: Criminal Code (Canada) Subsection 672.38(1)
Department: Justice
Function: Makes or reviews dispositions concerning any accused in respect of whom a verdict of not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder or unfit to stand trial is rendered.
Members: No less than five
Appointment/Term: No fixed term
Meets: Approximately six to nine times a year or as required
Honorarium: Category D
Contact: Director, Court Services, 667-5784

YUKON UTILITIES BOARD
Legislative Authority: Public Utilities Act, Section 2(1)
Department: Justice
Function: The Board issues orders fixing rates of a public utility; prohibits or limits any proposed rate change; fixes proper and adequate rates and methods of depreciation, amortization or depletion in respect of the property of any public utility. It fixes standards, classifications, regulations, practices, measurements or services to be observed, provided or followed by a public utility; and determines areas that services of a public utility shall provide. It also requires the public utility to establish, construct, maintain and operate any reasonable expansion of its existing services as well as determining the conditions that may be imposed by a public utility to establish, construct, maintain or operate an expansion of its existing services.
Members: Minimum of three to five members, of whom one is appointed Chair and another Vice-chair.
Appointment/Term: Maximum of three years
Meets: Twelve times a year
Honorarium: Category D
Contact: Consumer and Commercial Services, 667-5959