1. ACCESS TO CIVIL & FAMILY JUSTICE A Roadmap for Change

2. Purpose of the Report
To promote a broad understanding of what access to justice means and the access problems facing our civil and family justice system
To identify and promote a new way of thinking: a culture shift to guide the approach to reform
To provide an access to justice roadmap for real improvement

3. Major Access to Justice Gaps
12M Canadians will face at least one legal problem in any 3-year period. Few will have the resources to solve them
Poor and vulnerable persons experience more legal problems than higher income earners and more secure persons
Legal problems multiply leading to social and health related problems
Unresolved legal problems adversely affect people’s lives and the public purse

4. The current system of justice is:
inaccessible to so many
unable to respond adequately to the problem
not sustainable

5. Principles for Change Put the Public First Collaborate and Coordinate
Prevent and Educate
Simplify, Make Coherent, Proportional and Sustainable
Take Action
Focus on Outcomes

6. Innovative Goals
Refocus the Justice System to Reflect and Address Everyday Legal Problems
Make Essential Legal Services Available to Everyone
Make Courts and Tribunals Fully Accessible Multi-Service Centres for Public Dispute Resolution
Make Coordinated and Appropriate Multidisciplinary Family Services Easily Accessible

7. Institutional and Structural Goals
Create Local and National Access to Justice Implementation Mechanisms
Promote a Sustainable, Accessible and Integrated Justice Agenda through Legal Education
Enhance the Innovation Capacity of the Justice System

8. Research and Funding Goals
Support Access to Justice Research to Promote Evidence-Based Policy Making
Promote Coherent, Integrated and Sustained Funding Strategies

9. Access to Justice is at a Critical Stage The Change Needed Must Be:
Major
Sustained
Collaborative
System-wide

10. Who was on the Committee? Chief Justice of Canada (Honourary Chair)
Justice Thomas Cromwell (Chair)
Chief Justice of Ontario Provincial Court Judges Legal Aid
Deputy Ministers of Justice Canadian Bar Association Federation of Law Societies
Canadian Bar Association Forum on Civil Justice Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice
Canadian Judicial Council Law Deans Court Administration
Public Legal Education Assoc Pro Bono Law A Representative of the Public

11. Who was Missing?
Tribunals
Aboriginals
Racialized persons
Advocacy groups for the poor
Others?

12. Role of Tribunals in Access to Justice