Parliamentary Committee Notes: Increased Funding Levels for the Parole Board of Canada (PBC)
Issue:
The total funding sought by the PBC in Main Estimates for 2024-25 is $73.3M, representing a $3.0M or 4.2% increase over the previous year. Committee members may ask the minister to justify this increase.
Proposed Response:
Short Version:
The 4.2% increase over the previous year can mainly be explained by negotiated salary adjustments.
Expanded Version:
- The PBC is an independent administrative tribunal that, as part of the Canadian criminal justice system, makes independent, quality conditional release, record suspension/pardons and expungement decisions, as well as clemency recommendations, in a transparent and accountable manner, while respecting diversity and the rights of offenders and victims.
- PBC’s funding continues to ensure it is able to keep Canadians safe and will help it address the challenges related to systemic discrimination in the criminal justice system, particularly for Indigenous peoples. It will help the Board continue to address the increasing complexity associated with conditional release decision-making, due to years of legislative change and court cases that have cumulatively increased the rigor and due diligence required in the Board’s case preparation and decision-making.
- The PBC will allocate approximately 66% of its resources to legislated responsibilities for conditional release and related support; 16% of its resources for record suspension/pardons and expungement decisions, as well as clemency recommendations and the remaining approximately 18% of its resources will be used for internal services.
- Overall, the PBC plans on spending:
- $64.5M (88%) in operating expenditures net of revenue;
- $1.5M (2%) in Capital
- $7.3M (10%) for employee benefit plans; and
- 533 full-time equivalents (FTEs), including Board members.
Background:
The Main Estimates will fund the PBC’s four core responsibilities.
1. Conditional Release Decisions
Conditional release is based on the principle and supported by research that community safety is enhanced by the timely and gradual release of offenders to the community under supervision. Quality conditional release decisions, based on the risk of re-offending in conjunction with effective programs and treatment, and effective community supervision all contribute to the release process. Through this core responsibility, the Parole Board of Canada provides timely, accurate information for Board member decision-making, and develops training and policies that are essential tools for risk assessment and decision-making that are in accordance with the law.
2. Conditional Release Openness and Accountability
This core responsibility ensures that the PBC operates in an open and accountable manner, consistent with the provisions of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act It includes working with victims of crime, offenders, and the public by providing information about our policies and programs, including access to the PBC's registry of decisions, as well as providing assistance for observers at hearings. The core responsibility also includes working to encourage citizen engagement, enhancing public education and awareness, investigating incidents in the community (i.e., when a new offence occurs), monitoring the PBC's performance and reporting on conditional release results.
3. Record Suspension/Pardon and Expungement Decisions/Clemency Recommendations
- A record suspension/pardon is designed to support the sustained reintegration of an individual into society. It is an administrative act to remove the stigma of a criminal record for persons convicted of an offence under an Act of Parliament, who have completed their sentence, having met the criteria in the Criminal Records Act (CRA) and demonstrated law-abiding behaviour for a prescribed number of years. Record suspensions/pardons can be revoked or cease to have effect if a new offence is committed or a person is no longer found to be of good conduct. In meeting this core responsibility, the PBC screens applications for completeness and eligibility, collects information for Board member decision-making and develops policy to guide decision-making processes.
- In addition, under the Expungement Act, the PBC will order the expungement of records of convictions for eligible offences that would be lawful today. Persons convicted of an offence listed in the schedule to the Expungement Act may apply, as well as authorized representatives in cases where the person is deceased. The difference between a record suspension/pardon and an expungement is that with a record suspension/pardon, the criminal record is held ‘separate and apart’ from other criminal records, while an expungement will completely destroy the record. The PBC is also accountable for assessing requests and providing recommendations under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (i.e., clemency) and providing advice to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on the merits of each case.
- Annual Assessed Budget for Processing Record Suspensions and Pardons
- On January 1, 2022, the application fee reduction came into force, lowering the cost of applying for a record suspension from $657.77 to $50.00. The significantly lower fee improves access to record suspensions, especially for people with lower incomes.
- An estimated annual budget is presented in the Main Estimates, assuming a volume of approximately 20,000 accepted applications.
4. Internal Services
Internal services are the services that are provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:
- management and oversight services;
- communications services;
- legal services;
- human resources management services;
- financial management services;
- information management services;
- information technology services;
- real property management services;
- materiel management services; and
- acquisition management services.
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