About the Law Commission

Launched on September 7, 2007, the Law Commission of Ontario has a mandate to recommend law reform measures to increase the legal system’s relevance, effectiveness and accessibility; to clarify and simply the law; consider technology as a means to enhance access to justice; and stimulate critical debate about law and promote scholarly legal research.  While the LCO’s projects may involve all areas of provincial law that affect a wide variety of constituents, its mandate does emphasize selecting areas for study that are underserved by other research.

The LCO has released its report relating to the charging of fees for cashing government cheques and its recommendations about how to divide pensions on marital breakdown.  Its other projects currently involve older adults, persons with disabilities, vulnerable workers and families.  The Osgoode Hall Law School Scholar in Residence has undertaken a project relating to cross-border litigation.  You can find information about these projects and their progress on this website.

We approach law reform as an activity that is centred on law, but we believe that it must involve multidisciplinary analysis and recommendations that are directed not only to government, but also to quasi-public and private actors that have a role to play in whether the law is effective.  You can find examples of such recommendations in our report on fees and cashing government cheques.  Much more about our approach to law reform is found in our Strategic Plan.

We are pleased to hear from individual and groups about legal issues that require reform.  If you are interested in proposing a project to the LCO, you will find helpful guidelines on this website. 

Finally, we recognize the importance of hearing from those who are directly affected by the law.  I have already been fortunate in speaking with many different organizations and community groups in the province and welcome the opportunity to meet with more: please don‘t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to find out more about us and to tell us how the law affects you.

Dr. Patricia Hughes
Executive Director


                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Launch of the LCO