Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee Annual Report 2025 Presentation

Agenda

1. Committee History
2. CRD Service-overview
3. Service Structure
4. Governance
5. Roles and Responsibilities
6. Purpose
7. Subcommittees
8. Strategic Plan 2023-2026
9. Annual Report highlights

Annual Report Highlights 2025

1. Year in Review- month to month recap of this CRD delegated Commission's meetings, the presentations given to educate the VFCYJ committee, the updates provided by our partners the resource agencies and our advocacy initiatives (p. 6-9) with the overall goal to:
   • Increase awareness of the issues facing families and youth involved with the justice system and raise the profile of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee. a. Identify gaps in services. b. Support youth initiatives.
2. Financial Statement and Budget and Expenses (p.10 & 11)
3. VFCYJ sub-committee structure and function (p.12)
4. The efforts of the Capital Region Action Team (CRAT) on sexual exploitation of youth in the greater Victoria area (p. 13 &14)
5. The grants administered by the VFCYJ committee (p. 16 & 17)
6. The annual Open House May 28, 2025 (p. 8)
7. Dr. Rebeccah Nelem’s research on MYST (p. 8)
8. Panel discussion on Integrated Police Units in the region and the ramifications of the strategic funding withdrawals of the West shore RCMP and Central Saanich Police.

Committee History

• 1960’s- The Victoria Family Court Committee was created with Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt as members, under the now-Provincial Court Act.
• CRD was then tasked with constructing and paying for the Family and Children’s Court Building.
• late 1980s- the Letters Patent were amended to task CRD with funding and participating in the Family Court Committee. The Committee was designated a “Youth Justice Committee” by BC’s Min of Attorney General under the now-Youth Criminal Justice Act.
• The Committee amended its Terms of Reference and Constitution and gave CRD additional membership;
• 1990s- Central Saanich, North Saanich, and Sidney joined the service and Committee as the Peninsula Courthouse had closed;
• Late 1990s, the Service was amended to provide grants to Capital Region Action Team (CRAT) and other “Board approved” committees;
• Until 2019, the Committee continued to do advocacy and community granting work;
• In 2019, an informal service review was initiated, which resulted in the Committee deciding to become a CRD “Commission” and a commission bylaw being adopted by the CRD Board.

Governance

Legislation

• Established in 1966 under the BC Provincial Court Act. Endows Family Court Committee with powers and duties under Section 4.1
• Expanded in 1987 under Section 18 of the Federal Youth Criminal Justice Act to also be the Youth Justice Committee. Functions include “advising the federal and provincial governments on policies and procedures related to the youth criminal justice system”
• CRD Bylaw No. 2560 (1997) and Bylaw 4453 (Feb. 9, 2022)

Service Structure

• Bylaw 2560 is an “Establishing Bylaw”, setting out scope of the regional district “Service” and its participants
• Bylaw 4453 sets out the structure of the regional “Commission”
• The Committee is responsible for its own administrative decisions, and is delegated the Board’s ability to grant and provide assistance to community groups from the Service budget
• Neither effect the legislated status of the Committee, but wrap around it for liability and structure purposes
• As an “administrative” commission, the Committee as a whole must decide its priorities. The Board is not involved in the Committee’s day-to-day business, subject to LGA requirements.
• The budget is meant for its operational purposes and may be used for community grants
• The Committee does not have staff, though it may access some supports through CRD
• Amendments to Bylaw 2560 require two-thirds consent of participants and Provincial approval
• Amendments to Bylaw 4453 require Board approval with a two-thirds majority vote
• Roles, responsibilities, requirements and processes guided by CRD commission handbook 2020 (2020commission-orientation-handbook.pdf)

Governance Overview

Committee Governance

• CRD Procedures Bylaw No. 3828
• Commission Bylaw No. 4453, includes requirements such as:
  • Mandate
  • Membership
  • Term of office
  • Appointment procedure
  • Delegated power
  • Financial plan and budget
  • Meeting procedures
  • Record keeping requirements
• Roberts Rules of Order

Committee Governance (Continued)

• Agendas set at “Steering Committee” meeting, where all members are welcome to attend or submit motions in writing in advance
• The Steering Committee sets the agenda of an upcoming meeting, but does not make binding decisions
• Meetings operate the same as typical council/ board meetings
• Recommended to have reports and motions drafted in advance of Steering Committee meeting and to have agendas out 4 days prior to scheduled meeting- Bylaw 3828

Role and Responsibility of Committee

• Unlike most Regional District Committees, this is a “working” committee, not just a strategic committee.
• Some members must have experience in education, health, probation, or welfare.
• Members are also “volunteers” working on projects, whether its grant assessment, court watch, or advocacy work.
• Sub-committees exist by resolution of the Committee; the Chair appoints sub committee chairs; each committee must have a purpose.
• Other projects and arrangements are possible.

PURPOSE

Responsibility Of Members of the VFC&YJ committee

• ADVOCATE – for Children and Families who may come in contact with the Courts & Resource Agencies
• EDUCATE – your council and community regarding these needs and gaps in the system

What can the Committee do?

• EDUCATE - Act as a conduit between service agencies, local governments, First Nations, and Provincial and Federal authorities
• Offer community grants (other than assistance to business)
• Advocate for changes to legislation, policy, or systemic structures
• Canvas community resources for reporting to Attorney General (AG), local governments, others
• Take on specific causes for advocacy or funding, as has been historically done

What can’t the Committee do?

Committee cannot:

• Pass or amend bylaws
• amend its final Board approved budget or the Financial Plan (but may change uses of funds within its approved budget in the Financial Plan)
• approve reimbursements not in keeping with CRD policy (travel outside Canada)
• Individual commissioners have no “powers” outside the Commission structure, unless:
  • Registered volunteers working on a project of the Committee, assigned by resolution; or
  • Otherwise delegated by bylaw.
• Purchase items- Purchasing done by CRD staff

Sub-committees

2025 Appointments

• Communications – Jeff Bateman
• Financial – Esther Paterson
• Youth and Family Matters- Rose Stanton
• CRAT - Capital Region Action Team for Sexually Exploited Youth - Bill McElroy
• Grants & Priorities- Marcie McLean
• Court Watch - Marie-Térèse Little

Three-Year Strategic Plan 2023-2026

Mission:

• To facilitate connections between municipal and First Nations governments, school districts, service providers, and the broader community in order to educate and advocate on the challenges and shortfalls facing youth and families who may come into contact with the justice system.

Vision:

• Families and youth have access to timely and appropriate supports within their communities so that they may achieve their full potential.

Strategic Plan 2023-2026

GOALS

1. Increase awareness of the issues facing families and youth involved with the justice system and raise the profile of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee. a. Identify gaps in services. b. Support youth initiatives.
2. Pursue and promote meaningful reconciliation with the Indigenous community a. Committee members participate in Cultural Competency Training b. Acknowledge and reduce the over-representation of Indigenous people in the justice system.
3. Advocate for policies and initiatives that improve outcomes for families and youth who may come in contact with the justice system. Give a platform to youth/ amplify youth voices.
4. Support equity of access to resources across the region. Help other organizations leverage their resources in support of families and youth.
5. Facilitate collaboration between community service providers and governance bodies in the interest of better supporting youth and families. (Report back to Municipalities)

Annual Report Highlights 2025

1. Year in Review- month to month recap of this CRD delegated Commission's meetings, the presentations given to educate the VFCYJ committee, the updates provided by our partners the resource agencies and our advocacy initiatives (p. 6-9) with the overall goal to:
   • Increase awareness of the issues facing families and youth involved with the justice system and raise the profile of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee. a. Identify gaps in services. b. Support youth initiatives.
2. Financial Statement and Budget and Expenses (p.10 & 11)
3. VFCYJ sub-committee structure and function (p.12)
4. The efforts of the Capital Region Action Team (CRAT) on sexual exploitation of youth in the greater Victoria area (p. 13 &14)
5. The grants administered by the VFCYJ committee (p. 16 & 17)
6. The annual Open House May 28, 2025 (p. 8)
7. Dr. Rebeccah Nelem’s research on MYST (p. 8)
8. Panel discussion on Integrated Police Units in the region and the ramifications of the strategic funding withdrawals of the West shore RCMP and Central Saanich Police.

Thank you

Questions