Who We Are
PHOTO: Access Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters (The Action Committee)
There is a serious access to justice problem in Canada. The civil and family justice system is too complex, too slow and too expensive. It is too often incapable of producing just outcomes that are proportional to the problems brought to it or reflective of the needs of the people it is meant to serve. While there are many dedicated people trying hard to make it work and there have been many reform efforts, the system continues to lack coherent leadership, institutional structures that can design and implement change, and appropriate coordination to ensure consistent and cost effective reform. Major change is needed.
The Action Committee, established by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin in 2007. It continues to bring people together to examine solutions on this critical issue.
While everyone agrees that access to justice is important, our system struggles to meet this expectation. The Action Committee on Access to Justice brings people from all corners of Canada’s justice system together to improve access to justice.
The national Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters (Action Committee) is focused on fostering engagement, pursuing a strategic approach to reforms and coordinating the efforts of all participants concerned with civil and family justice.
The leadership of the former Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin to raise issues relating to improving access to justice for all Canadians has done much to focus the attention and the energies of many who work within the justice system. The Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters has emerged as a voice for system wide improvements. The Action Committee is focused on fostering engagement, pursuing a strategic approach to reforms and coordinating the efforts of all participants concerned with civil justice. To learn more about this project please see Chief Justice McLachlin’s speech from the 2012 Canadian Bar Association Council Meeting.
The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice is pleased to play a support role in the execution of research and dissemination activities for the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters. Logistical support for the Action Committee is provided by the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice / Institut canadien d’administration de la justice and the Department of Justice / Ministère de la Justice.
While everyone agrees that access to justice is important, our system struggles to meet this expectation. The Action Committee on Access to Justice brings people from all corners of Canada’s justice system together to improve access to justice.
The Action Committee adopted Canada’s Justice Development Goals to align the work of organizations across the country. These nine goals identify the challenges facing the system, showcase the work being done to address them, and offer a way for everyone to join the conversation.
In Canada, the Action Committee adopted its nine Justice Development Goals (JDGs) after working collaboratively with people across the country to examine how to advance A2J. These nine goals map out a path to improve A2J that everyone, whatever they are working on, can use to align their work.
Whether individuals working to meet local meet needs, or as governments responsible for funding decisions, we can each see how our actions can advance A2J. We can align our work, driving towards a more inclusive and accessible system. Whether individuals working to meet local meet needs, or as governments responsible for funding decisions, we can each see how our actions can advance A2J. We can align our work, driving towards a more inclusive and accessible system.
- Number of people impacted by 2021 A2J projects 6,254,736
- 225 new A2J projects in 2021
The national Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters (Action Committee) is focused on fostering engagement, pursuing a strategic approach to reforms and coordinating the efforts of all participants concerned with civil and family justice.
The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice is pleased to play a support role in the execution of research and dissemination activities for the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters. Logistical support for the Action Committee is provided by the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice / Institut canadien d’administration de la justice and the Department of Justice / Ministère de la Justice.
