Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2025–26 departmental plan: At a glance

A departmental plan describes a department’s priorities, plans, and associated costs for the upcoming three fiscal years.

Vision, mission, raison d’être and operating context

Key priorities

The Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (ORSCC)’s top priorities for 2025–26 are as follows:

• Business Transformation: to ensure that the necessary business processes and technologies are in place – or are being planned – to reduce the number of documents required to be filed in paper format, to transition to electronic processes within the Court, to create an electronic filing system that allows parties, whether they are represented or not, to e-file through a secure portal, to manage and preserve Court records in electronic format, to provide the general public with better access to Court information online, and to allow effective communication with counsel and litigants through multiple and secure digital channels.

• Communications and Outreach: to recognize the significant contributions of the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) as it marks its 150th anniversary in 2025. The Court looks forward to commemorating this important milestone in the history of Canada and has planned several activities to honour this special anniversary. More information can be found on the 150 years of the Supreme Court of Canada website.

• Security: to ensure the Court’s security profile which has many components, such as physical security, information technology security and business continuity planning, remains effective in mitigating security risks.

• Facilities Management: In collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), ensuring the safety, functionality, and efficiency of the SCC building. This includes overseeing the building’s rehabilitation and preparing for the transition to the West Memorial Building in 2026, while addressing the challenges posed by aging infrastructure. As well, managing resources, ensuring efficient handling, allocation, and utilization to support ongoing operations and the successful transition to the new building remain a priority.

Highlights

In 2025–26, total planned spending (including internal services) for the ORSCC is $50,015,522 and total planned full-time equivalent staff (including internal services) is 255. For complete information on the ORSCC’s total planned spending and human resources, read the Planned spending and human resources section of the full plan.

The following provides a summary of the department’s planned achievements for 2025–26 according to its approved Departmental Results Framework. A Departmental Results Framework consists of a department’s core responsibilities, the results it plans to achieve, and the performance indicators that measure progress toward these results.

Core responsibility: The administration of Canada’s final court of appeal

Planned spending: $32,989,515

Planned human resources: 159

Departmental results:

• Judges and parties are supported through effective court services and case management

• Public and stakeholders’ awareness of the Court is increased through effective communication and outreach

In support of its Core Responsibility, the focus of the ORSCC’s plans are:

• In 2025, the SCC will commemorate its 150th anniversary under the theme ‘150 years of upholding the Rule of Law, building public trust, and serving our community’. Many activities are planned in order to commemorate 150 years as Canada’s final court of appeal and the only bilingual and bijural apex court in the world. Please visit the 150 years of the Supreme Court of Canada for more details.

• Effective case management services provided to the Court and litigants for all judicial proceedings brought to or decided by the Court.

• Maintaining effective communications strategies and continuing its outreach activities, including in-person and remote tours, in order to support the Court in a context of increased interest in the cases and growing visibility of the Supreme Court of Canada.

• Increasing access to judicial information for the public through various means of communications, including a new modernized website launched in January 2025.

• Continuation of enhancements to the Court’s overall security posture both in terms of physical security and informatics, as well as to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

• Advancing the rehabilitation of the SCC building in the coming year, ensuring that key projects are aligned with the overall strategic vision for the building’s long-term sustainability. The ORSCC will prioritize efforts related to space optimization, maintaining compliance with environmental and safety regulations, and supporting the planning for the move to the West Memorial Building in 2026. Additionally, material management will be optimized to support the rehabilitation efforts and ensure that resources are effectively allocated for the transition.

More information about the administration of Canada’s final court of appeal can be found in the full plan.