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Our members are Federal Crown Counsel, who fulfill a number of crucial roles for the government of Canada and the Canadian public, including:

  • Prosecuting criminal offences under federal statutes, and Criminal Code offences in the North and by provincial delegation;
  • Drafting policy and legislation;
  • Litigating on behalf of Canada in complex areas, including:
    • First Nations land claims;
    • Health regulation;
    • Immigration;
    • Extradition;
    • Veterans´ affairs;
    • Customs and revenue;
    • Commission inquiries; and
    • National security certificates; and
  • Defending Canada against claims that total as much as $1.2 trillion at any given time.

The AJC is headquartered in Ottawa with a 41 member Governing Council each representing members and a region.

History

Canada's Crown counsel was historically excluded from collective bargaining under statute.

Throughout the 1990s, Canada's Crown counsel, like other public servants, were subject to a series of wage freezes, diminished promotional opportunities, and increasing staff departures.  In this context, support grew for an independent body that would advocate for the interests of non-managerial Crown counsel.  The AJC was formed in July 2001, following a national referendum of counsel, in which nearly 90% of the ballots cast were in favour of its creation.

On April 1, 2005, the Public Service Labour Relations Act (“PSLRA”) came into force.  The PSLRA allowed Canada's Crown counsel to unionize for the first time, and the AJC applied to become the certified bargaining agent for all eligible Crown counsel on the day that the PSLRA came into effect.

The AJC was certified on April 28, 2006, as the bargaining agent for the approximately 3,000 lawyers, notaries and prosecutors who work for the federal government.  Except for a small number of lawyers who had previously been represented by another union, this marked the first time that Canada's Crown counsel were able to bargain collectively.

The AJC concluded its first collective agreement in July 2010 following its first arbitral award in October 2009. For more information on terms and conditions of employment and negotiating history, please consult our Collective Agreement page or Collective Bargaining page. 

Our Mission

  • primarily to promote the improvement of the conditions of employment of its members;
  • to negotiate, as the exclusive representative of Crown Counsel, with the Employer and applicable departments and agencies with respect to all matters affecting terms and conditions of employment including compensation;
  • to promote equity, diversity and inclusion and the elimination of systemic barriers in the workplaces;
  • to promote and protect the well-being, health and safety of members in their workplace;
  • to represent and assist Crown Counsel in employment-related matters;
  • to promote the common interests, concerns and public contribution of Crown Counsel and the AJC;
  • to recognize and promote the bilingual and bijural nature of Crown Counsel work;
  • to promote the professional and career development of Crown Counsel.

Vision Statement

To seek and promote justice for our members and Canadians

By this, we mean the following:

  • To improve the ability and capacity of federal government lawyers to be the best they can be when delivering legal services for the benefit of the Canadian public;
  • To work collectively to support and promote the proper administration of justice and respect for the rule of law;
  • To raise public awareness of federal government lawyers and the work they do for the benefit of all Canadians.