Best Practices at Family Justice System Entry Points: Needs of Users and Responses of Workers in the Justice System

After extensive consultation, the Law Commission of Ontario has undertaken a new project in family law, to be completed by November 2010. The purpose of the project is to improve the process of addressing family law disputes by identifying and recommending best practices at entry points to the family law system.

The LCO has now begun extensive consultations leading to the development of recommendations to improve the family system. It has issued a Consultation Paper to guide participants during consultations. It provides background on various current family and access to justice projects in Ontario. It lists a series of questions that participants can use in providing their feedback. It also explains how Ontario organizations and individuals can contact the LCO to set up consultation meetings in their communities. The LCO will consult with both family justice system users and workers.

Following these consultations, which will end on February 1, 2009, the LCO will conduct additional research and compile consultation results. It will release its final report and recommendations in November 2010.

As the LCO completed our family law Consultation Paper for release, the Attorney General of Ontario, the Honourable Chris Bentley, announced $150 million in additional funding for Legal Aid Ontario. A portion of this funding will be allocated to the family process and to legal clinics serving people in poverty. We will follow the development of initiatives taken by the Attorney General and look forward to opportunities to work together on improving the family law system in Ontario.