Renewal

The past two years have marked a period of significant renewal and growth for the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice. Since relocating from the University of Alberta to Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in 2011 we have launched the $1 million Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council funded Cost of Justice Project, assembled a new team, developed a new look and engaged key stakeholders from across the country in order to advance our refreshed operational and research agendas.

Other highlights include: 

• Releasing the Final Report for the Alberta Legal Services Mapping Project 
   
• Developing foundational Cost of Justice Project documents with input from Research Alliance members 
   
• Taking on a support role in the execution of research and dissemination activities for the National Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters
   
• Releasing Addressing the Needs of Self-Represented Litigants in the Canadian Justice System, a white paper prepared for the Association of Canadian Court Administrators 

• Organizing and participating in innovative access to justice research events

• Having the Cost of Justice Project featured in the Gazette, a magazine published by the Law Society of Upper Canada and OMNI News - Punjabi Edition

• Ab Currie, pioneer of the justiciable problems approach to access to justice in Canada joining the CFCJ team as Senior Research Fellow 

 
We are excited about this next chapter as an organization and a national access to justice research leader. This new e-newsletter represents our latest communications initiative - we look forward to providing regular updates on our latest activities, research findings and collaborations. Your feedback is welcome at communications@cfcj-fcjc.org.

 

Major Study on Public and Private Costs of Justiciable Problems to Launch This Summer

This summer the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice will lead a major national legal problems survey that will examine the costs to individuals attempting to resolve civil justice problems. This study, which is a major Cost of Justice Project initiative, will identify the monetary as well as intangible costs that result from experiencing social problems. 

  

Issues of Cost and Access: Beyond Silos, Towards Strategies Roundtable Series 

In recent years some of Canada's largest publicly funded systems have made important strides in improving access to services by rethinking dominant paradigms around cost and social inequality. Taking place on Tuesday, March 19 Justice and Early Childhood Education is the final event in our three part Roundtable Series that considers what lessons can be imparted about increasing access to justice by engaging experts from publicly funded arenas. Previous Roundtables engaged experts in health care and social investment. Background papers are currently available on the CFJC website and a final report that captures key directions will be available in the summer of 2013.

“What is Access to Justice?” Pilot Study Data Presented 

Trevor Farrow participated presented initial findings from the pilot study “What is Access to Justice?”, which charts what the public wants and needs from its system of justice at the Symposium in Honour of John McCamus in February 2013. The panel also also featured Janet Mosher and Cost of Justice Research Alliance members Lorne Sossin and Michael Trebilcock. An expansion of this study will be undertaken during the summer of 2013.

Accessing Justice: Telling Stories and Learning Lessons from Community Driven Policy Making in First Nations Communities 

Taking place on March 22 at the Da Ku Cultural Centre in Haines Junction, Yukon this symposium will examine the effect of community-led policy making on access to justice issues among Yukon First Nations. Participants include scholars, legal experts, First Nations heritage workers and community members. This event is jointly presented with the York Centre for Public Policy and Law. 

Dr. Russell Brown Appointed to the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Congratulations to former board member Dr. Russell Brown on his appointment to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton. Dr. Brown served on the CFJC Board from 2007 to 2012.