I. INTRODUCTION

During fall 2009 and winter 2010, the LCO conducted consultations as part of its family justice project entitled “Best Practices at Family Justice System Entry Points: Needs of Users and Responses of Workers within the Justice System.” The LCO organized 49 individual or group consultation meetings, either in person or by telephone and consulted over one hundred people. The large majority of these meetings were conducted in the English language. However, more than a quarter were conducted in the French language. Telephone interviews allowed the LCO to reach out to individuals or groups across Ontario. The LCO also gathered information for its research through an online survey, which was made available following publication of its Consultation Paper in September 2009.[1] The LCO spoke with individuals or groups working closely with Aboriginal peoples in Moosonee, Manitoulin Island, Thunder Bay and Toronto. We also had conversations with or received written submissions from people from other regions of Ontario, including Aurora, Brantford, Burlington, Guelph, Hamilton, Ilderton, Kingston, Lanark County, London, Mississauga, Ottawa, Toronto, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Sutton West and Walkerton.

This paper summarizes the LCO family justice consultation methodology and results. It also explores how these results will impact the last research phase of this project. Following publication of this consultation report, the Project Head, in consultation with the Ad Hoc Project Advisory Group and others, will identify areas that require additional research and discuss possible recommendations for family justice reform. In 2011, these recommendations will be explored in an interim report, which will allow stakeholders to provide feedback. The LCO recommendations will then be finalized in the LCO final report on family justice. The Board of Governors is responsible for approving the final report and its recommendations.