Manitoba Justice

Authority for administering justice within each province and territory of Canada was assigned to provincial governments by section 92(14) of the federal Constitution Act, 1867. Manitoba's justice arm, the Department of the Attorney General, was formed in 1871, becoming one of the first departments formed by the newly-established province. However, the initial legislation related to the Department, the ''Attorney General's Act'', would not be passed until 1885. Moreover, in Manitoba, consolidated Acts are grouped into three subcategories: • Municipal Acts are public Acts that are applicable to particular municipalities. • Private Acts are those that have no general application. Instead, they confer "special rights or exemptions on specific individuals or groups." On behalf of the province, Manitoba's Department of Justice administers and enforces more than 100 provincial statutes relating to civil law, correctional services, and court administration, among others. Consolidated Acts that Manitoba Justice has been responsible for include, among others, The Human Rights Code (1987–88); The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act (2013), formerly The Liquor Control Act; The Child Custody Enforcement Act (1987); The Justice for Victims of Child Pornography Act (2011); The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act; and ''The Victims' Bill of Rights (1998), formerly The Victims' Rights Act''. Under the Canadian Constitution Act, 1867, Manitoba Justice is also responsible for prosecuting cases under the Criminal Code and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. == Courts Division ==

The Courts Division of the Department facilitates court services throughout Manitoba and is overseen by Assistant Deputy Minister Suzanne Gervais (). The three courts of Manitoba are: • Manitoba Court of Appeal; • the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba; and • the Provincial Court of Manitoba == Criminal Justice Division ==

The Criminal Justice Division provides police protection for all parts of Manitoba, working closely with municipal and Indigenous police as well as the RCMP. The Commissioner reports operationally to the Minister of Justice via annual report, as a legislative requirement, and administratively to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Criminal Justice. As of 2020, LERA has statutory jurisdiction over (approx.) 1,664 peace officers that are employed by municipal police departments in Manitoba Originally, the responsibility of dealing with citizen complaints in Manitoba was handled by local police commissions, composed of some or all members of their respective municipal councils. However, Manitoba Police Commission (MPC)—which was established to provide consultation to municipal police and oversee their operations—would every so often receive complaints that had been inadequately addressed at the local level, and would have to get involved. In 1979, following MPC's investigation of an incident from 1976 that involved the (alleged) beating of a rape suspect by Winnipeg police officers, the Commission recommended a change in public complaint procedures. In March 1981, the Department of the Attorney General proposed for new legislation and, in November 1982, The Law Enforcement Review Act (Bill 2, 32nd Legislature) was introduced into the House. The Bill would pass in August 1983 and would be proclaimed in December 1984. This new law would require that all public complaints regarding the actions of an on-duty police officer be referred to the Commissioner who accesses it according to the Act. LERA would finally begin operations as an agency on 1 February 1985. In 1988, the Attorney General initiated an evaluation of LERA and the consideration of consolidating LERA and MPC into a single agency dealing with police complaints in order to make use of available resources. In 1992, TLERA was amended, which included the establishment of the Law Enforcement Review Board (LERB); the MPC being dissolved; requiring the burden of proof; and more authority to the Commissioner to resolve complaints. == Crown Law Division ==

Civil Justice (or Crown Law), overseen by Assistant Deputy AG Mike Mahon (), • The Constitutional Law branch is there to provides the provincial government with legal services regarding constitutional matters. This branch was formed as the Department began to expand its responsibilities, addressing issues related to the interpretation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which was enacted in 1982. that provides legal services in Manitoba to those who may require legal aid. Legal Aid Manitoba currently has offices in Winnipeg, Brandon, Dauphin, The Pas, and Thompson, with its personnel (including contracted private lawyers) regularly travelling to over 40 rural and northern communities. Approximately 190 provincial employees work with LAM, formally or informally, serving (approx.) 90,000 Manitobans per year. For cases that affect groups of people (e.g., those involving human rights, environmental law, consumer law, poverty law), LAM funds and oversees its provision of services through the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC). PILC receives additional funding support from the Manitoba Law Foundation, as well as pro bono public interest legal services, in-kind services, client contributions, and occasional project grants. In the 1930s–40s, the Law Society of Manitoba established the first program in Canada to provide free aid for those who could not afford legal counsel. Lawyers would work pro bono. In 1969, with growing demand for free legal aid, a roster of private bar lawyers were paid $50 daily to act as duty counsel at criminal intake court. In 1971–72, Manitoba would finally incorporate legal aid into provincial legislation in 1971 and, in 1972, Legal Aid Services Society of Manitoba would begin operations. A decade later, with the advent of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, LAM would establish the Public Interest Law Centre to handle cases of social significance, i.e. cases that affect groups/Manitobans broadly. Manitoba Law Reform Commission The Manitoba Law Reform Commission (MLRC) is an arm's-length agency, established in 1970 by The Law Reform Commission Act, that reviews and recommends reforms regarding "modernizing and improving provincial laws." == Community Safety Division ==

The largest division of Manitoba Justice is the Community Safety Division, which "administers sentences imposed by the courts on offenders who are in custody or on probation." • The Manitoba Police Commission • Protective services, which provide security services and other governmental oversight • The Independent Investigation Unit, which began operations on 19 June 2015 under of Part VII of The Police Services Act, is responsible for conducting investigations when an officer has been involved in an incident where someone has died or suffered a serious injury, or when there is evidence that an officer has violated prescribed legislation. Relevant legislation includes The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, The Body Armour and Fortified Vehicle Control Act, and The Parental Responsibility Act. The Division also oversees the Vehicle Impoundment Registry (VIR), the administrative centre that—under the Highway Traffic Act—administers the seizures and impoundments of vehicles, which includes recording the status of every vehicle seized in Manitoba. and is also a member of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Association of Police Governance, and the Canadian Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. • Altona Police Board (Altona Police Service) • Brandon Police Board (Brandon Police Service) • Cornwallis Police Board (Cornwallis Police Service) • Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Police Commission (Manitoba First Nation Police Service) • Morden Police Board (Morden Police Service) • Riverdale Police Board (Rivers Police Service) • Springfield Police Board (Springfield Police Service) • Ste. Anne Police Board (Ste. Anne Police Service) • Victoria Beach Police Board (Victoria Beach Police Service) • Winkler Police Board (Winkler Police Service) • Winnipeg Police Board (Winnipeg Police Service) Manitoba Corrections Manitoba Corrections (or the Corrections Division) has its head office located on 810 - 405 Broadway in Winnipeg. It includes 6 adult correctional services; 2 youth correctional services, and 27 community corrections offices (incl. 11 in First Nations communities), which provide all "non-custody, community-based offender services and programs." == Minister and Attorney General ==

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General () is a cabinet minister in the Government of Manitoba. 1871–1990 1990–present ==See also==