People-Centred Approach to Justice (CA0077)

Issue to be addressed The events of 2020–21 showed the importance of justice, anti-racism and anti-discrimination efforts, which were brought to the forefront through international movements. We also saw side-effects of the global pandemic, which created access to justice issues, such as legal problems related to detention, employment, housing and debt. Access to justice and open justice are key to helping all individuals, communities, civil society organizations and governments across the country have access to the data, information and services they need to identify and effectively resolve their legal problems.

Problem statement There is a need to address the access to justice crisis in this country and promote just outcomes for all.

Commitment The Government of Canada commits to collect and share data, including disaggregated data, advance legal literacy, identify and share promising practices, and foster partnerships and collaboration. Overall, it will promote a people-centred approach to justice, which works to advance equality, legal empowerment, and a better understanding of the legal needs of all the people of Canada, including Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and other traditionally underserved populations.

Milestones

4.1 Collect and share data, including disaggregated data

- 4.1.1 Complete the Canadian Legal Problems Survey (CLPS) and share the results, including Public Use Microdata File (PUMF) February 2022 JUS

- 4.1.2 Complete and share the findings of qualitative studies on LGBTQ2S populations, Black Canadians, persons with disabilities, immigrants and Indigenous Peoples, to complement the CLPS quantitative data Spring 2022 JUS

- 4.1.3 Prepare and publish Legal Aid Reports Annually JUS

- 4.1.4 Update and maintain the State of the Criminal Justice System Report and Dashboard Annually JUS

- 4.1.5 Collect and release high-value data related to various policing activities, workforce composition and more May 2023 and ongoing • 4.1.5.1 Establish and release an RCMP inventory of data and information resources of business value • 4.1.5.2 Release to the Government of Canada open data portal identified and approved open RCMP datasets RCMP

4.2 Identify and share promising practices DEPT. JUS

- 4.2.1 Collaborate with the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals (CCAT) to support delivery of workshops to better understand and promote good practices June 2022

- 4.2.2 Support development of Community Justice Centres as a promising practice Winter 2024

- 4.2.3 Publish promising practices from evaluations, annual reports and federal, provincial and territorial work, as appropriate Winter 2024

4.3 Advance legal literacy and empowerment DEPT. JUS

- 4.3.1 Regularly update Charterpedia on the Justice website Winter 2024

- 4.3.2 Publish geo-spatial mapping of services funded by Indigenous Justice Program Winter 2024

- 4.3.3 Release a range of family law tools, including: • 4.3.3.1 Five forthcoming online courses on Bill C-78 (family violence, relocation, family dispute resolution and the duties of the parties, parenting, and Inter-jurisdictional support proceedings under the Divorce Act) • 4.3.3.2 Online fact sheet on the official languages provisions in C-78 • 4.3.3.3 Online materials for legal professionals on the 1996 and 2007 Hague Conventions • 4.3.3.4 Online materials for professionals on the amendments to the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, particularly those relating to income disclosure • 4.3.3.5 A family violence tool for family law legal advisors Summer 2023

- 4.3.4. Develop a Children’s Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) tool and guide on how to use the CRIA tool, with the accompanying online course on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child May 2022

- 4.3.5 Support for a network of legal information hubs providing free services to official language minority communities Winter 2024

- 4.3.6 Communications activities to support legal literacy, including: • 4.3.6.1 Promotion of Charter anniversary and online resources each April • 4.3.6.2 Public awareness of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the proposed federal legislation • 4.3.6.3 Updates to the digital Braille version of the Criminal Code and the release of accessible versions of legislation and related content • 4.3.6.4 Accessible versions of Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) communications products Winter 2024

4.4 Foster partnerships and collaborate
to advance access to justice DEPT. JUS

- 4.4.1 Work with provincial and territorial partners Winter 2024

- 4.4.2 Participation on OGP Coalition on Justice Spring 2022

- 4.4.3 Collaboration with Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters Winter 2024

- 4.4.4 Fostering international partnerships, including OECD and Pathfinders Winter 2024

4.5 A multi-year roadmap for open government at the RCMP DEPT. RCMP

- 4.5.1 Develop an RCMP open government strategy with multi-year action plan (released publicly) September 2022

- 4.5.2 Establish an Open Government Office with resources dedicated to the advancement of openness and transparency across the RCMP June 2022

- 4.5.3 Establish an RCMP Open Government Working Group of key stakeholders across the RCMP to identify and release data and information, and advance a culture of openness, transparency and accountability based on open government principles and practices. In addition, the RCMP will be an active participant in interdepartmental working groups/efforts around justice and justice-related topics of transparency and open government June 2022

- 4.5.4 Establish an RCMP Multi-Stakeholder Forum (non-governmental organizations, other government departments, private sector, academia, community representatives including Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ, youth) to help engage in discussions on priorities and areas of focus for openness and transparency in the RCMP Fall 2023