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About the Justice System

Canada’s Court System

(permission given by Joanne McNair from canadian-politics.com for the use of this material)

Canada’s system of courts is complex - like the society it serves. There are several levels and types of court, and questions of jurisdiction can be difficult to sort out, especially since courts that share the same functions may go by different names. Both the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments pass laws, and they also share the administration of justice, but the relationship is not simple. For instance, the provinces and territories are responsible for providing everything necessary for their courts, from building and maintaining the courthouses, to providing staff and resources such as interpreters, court reporters to prepare transcripts, sheriffs, and registry services, to paying provincial/territorial court judges; yet the judges for the superior courts are appointed and paid by the federal government. Administration of the Supreme Court of Canada and federally created courts is the responsibility of the federal government.

How the Courts are Organized

There are essentially four levels of court in Canada. First there are provincial/territorial courts, which handle the great majority of cases that come into the system. Second are the provincial/territorial superior courts. These courts deal with more serious crimes and also take appeals from provincial/territorial court judgments. On the same level, but responsible for different issues, is the Federal Court. At the next level are the provincial/territorial courts of appeal and the Federal Court of Appeal, while the highest level is occupied by the Supreme Court of Canada.  Use the links below to explore further (links to Canadian-politics.com):

Provincial/Territorial Courts
The Federal Courts
Specialized Federal Courts
The Supreme Court of Canada
New Approaches to Justice
The Courts and Related Processes
Keeping the System Fair and Efficient