Department of Justice (Canada)

Department of Justice

Ministère de la Justice
Department overview
Formed	1867
Type	Department responsible for oversight of the Canadian justice system
Jurisdiction	Canada
Employees	Over 5,000
Ministers responsible	Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Vacant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Department executive	Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada
Child Department	Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Website	canada.justice.gc.ca

The Department of Justice (French: Ministère de la Justice) is a department of the Government of Canada that represents the Canadian government in legal matters. The Department of Justice works to ensure that Canada's justice system is as fair, accessible and efficient as possible. The department helps the federal government to develop policy and to draft and reform laws as needed. At the same time, it acts as the government's legal adviser, providing legal counsel and support, and representing the Government of Canada in court.

The department's responsibilities reflect the double role of the Minister of Justice, who is also by law the Attorney General of Canada: in general terms, the Minister is concerned with the administration of justice, including policy in such areas as criminal law, family law, human rights law, and Aboriginal justice; the Attorney General is the chief law officer of the Crown, responsible for conducting all litigation for the federal government.

While the role of the Minister of Justice has existed since 1867, the department was not created until 1868. The headquarters of the Department of Justice is located in Ottawa at St. Andrew's Tower (284 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H8), a modern low rise office tower built in 1987.

The 53rd and current Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada is Arif Virani.