Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission Added

Summary#

The Order Amending Part III of Schedule VI to the Financial Administration Act adds the new Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission to federal financial rules and names its Chief Commissioner as the Accounting Officer. The Order came into force on March 6, 2025.

What it does#

• Adds the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission to Column I of Part III of Schedule VI to the Financial Administration Act.
• Names the Chief Commissioner as the Accounting Officer in Column II of that schedule.
• Aligns this change with the coming into force of sections 1, 4 and 14 to 18 of the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission Act (David and Joyce Milgaard’s Law).
• Takes effect on the day the Order was registered (March 6, 2025).

Who's affected#

• The new Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission and its leadership, especially the Chief Commissioner.
• Parliament and its committees, which will receive reports and accountability from the Chief Commissioner.
• The Minister of Justice, whose direct reporting role over the review process is adjusted as the Commission becomes the accountable body.
• People involved in miscarriage-of-justice reviews (applicants, their families, and lawyers) and organizations that work with them may notice the institutional change as the Commission is set up.
• It is unclear from the Order exactly when the Commission will begin full operations; this Order covers the financial-accountability step only.

Why it matters#

• It puts the Commission into the federal financial and accountability system. That means the Chief Commissioner will be responsible for internal audit arrangements and for answering to Parliament about the Commission’s programs and performance.
• The change clears a legal and administrative step needed before the Commission can receive appropriations (budget) and fully operate.
• For the public, this is part of shifting miscarriage-of-justice reviews from a minister-led process to an independent commission-led process, which affects who oversees and reports on those reviews.
• The government says the change has minimal cost and no impact on small businesses.