Before describing two family law project possibilities for the LCO in the next section, this section will explain three significant considerations that need to be taken into account when designing a law reform project for the LCO, all raised during the Roundtable. The first consideration is the necessity to adopt an intersectional analytical framework. The second one is the pragmatic concern with available resources, efficiency and effectiveness. Finally, the last consideration is the role of the LCO in the community.
A. Intersectional Analytical Framework
In addition to proposing reform project possibilities for the LCO, Roundtable participants provided insight into analytical approaches that should be part of any LCO project. Key considerations came out of these discussions. These considerations are particularly important for the LCO in terms of fulfilling its mandate of increasing access to justice. They are also related to the LCO core values of diversity and inclusiveness mentioned at the beginning of this paper. This section explores some of the elements of an intersectional analytical framework that the LCO should adopt in any of its projects, with reference to specific family law examples provided during the Roundtable.
1. Cultural Competency
Roundtable participants expressed concern about cultural competency within the family justice system. Lack of cultural competency disproportionately impacts Aboriginal communities and members of various racialized groups, especially non white and non English speaking groups. For example, a Roundtable participant pointed out that an Aboriginal person who is involved in a family dispute might not disclose certain types of information due to cultural norms or previous experience with the legal system. Actors in the family justice system should be trained to ask appropriate questions with respect to such norms and the necessity of developing a relationship of trust.
. Gender Competency
Participants also noted a lack of gender competency within the family justice system and expressed dissatisfaction with the processing of domestic violence cases, which problems disproportionately affect women. Participants identified the issue of children’s contact with parents whose violent behaviour is a major issue. They also mentioned that issues related to violence were often not addressed properly because female parties were not appropriately represented. These concerns have already been the object of numerous studies. However, according to participants, in practice, much effort remains to be done in order to improve service across gender lines within the family justice system.
3. Linguistic Competency
Related to cultural competency is linguistic competency. Roundtable participants had different linguistic backgrounds or were connected to various linguistic groups including English, French, Aboriginal and other languages. Language is especially important in the context of family justice. As much as English may be the main language of business, it is not necessarily the language of the family. Increased sensitivity to the issues of linguistic competency and access to justice is therefore appropriate in this area.
French is the second largest linguistic groups in Ontario after English and represents 4.8% of the Ontario population according to the 2006 Statistics Canada census.[10] The Ontario francophone population is also the largest in Canada, outside of Quebec.[11] Although many francophones live in Toronto and Ottawa, many live in other locations in Ontario. For example, a francophone from Sudbury participated in the Roundtable. Despite this large francophone presence across Ontario and the fact that Ontario francophones have specific legal rights in Ontario,[12] French language services in the area of family justice are lacking in Ontario. In the Greater Toronto Area and in Sudbury, there are no shelters for female victims of domestic violence with staff who can deliver services in French, and in Ottawa, there are only two.[13] Linguistic competency in Ontario would therefore require specific attention to French language.
Although the Roundtable was held in English, the LCO has a commitment to publishing its main documents in both French and English and the present consultation process will be conducted in both languages.
In addition to the historical presence of the French language, the province of Ontario has an even longer history of disappearing Aboriginal languages due to colonialism. Cree and Inuktituk are currently the most spoken Aboriginal languages in the province.[14] The lack of supports to revive Aboriginal languages through intergenerational connections is a barrier to developing both cultural and linguistic competency in the delivery of family law services to Aboriginal peoples, another area to which the LCO should pay attention.
In addition to this linguistic diversity, Ontario has a long history of immigration, which resulted in Toronto being one of the cities where the highest number of languages is spoken around the world.[15] Many NGOs and community organizations respond to the Ontario population in their first language. Especially when it comes to family issues, access to justice for family members who speak other languages than English and who do not all have the same level of English language skills is crucial. Ontarians must not let linguistic barriers perpetuate damaging family dynamics such as family violence.
People who are more comfortable in other languages than English and who live in smaller centres than Toronto have great difficulty obtaining family justice services. The Family Law Education for Women project is an example of an initiative that helps disseminate plain language family law information in different languages.[16] The Linguistic and Rural Access to Justice Project of the Law Foundation of Ontario is another example of a project that aims at improving access to legal information and services to people who speak another language than English and French, as well as to people living in rural and remote areas of Ontario.[17] These projects provide the LCO with models on how to take linguistic considerations into account.
Although the LCO does not have the capacity to offer multi-lingual consultation processes, it can nevertheless take the linguistic reality described in this subsection into account in thinking about family justice processes and help develop linguistic competency in Ontario.
4. Class
In addition to linguistic, race and gender analysis, discussions within the diverse group that was present around the table made clear that the family justice system does not currently respond properly and equitably to all users across class divides. Some users of the family justice system are fighting over property division, whereas others who do not own any significant assets are fighting to have a foot in the door of the family justice system to solve issues related to child custody, for example. Among disadvantaged groups, Aboriginal peoples as well as people who live in remote areas of Ontario have a difficult time, if any opportunity at all, moving through the system. In addition, advantaged groups have the luxury of buying private family justice services when they are not satisfied with the public system. A participant also raised the unfairness of forcing low income people into mandatory dispute resolution mechanisms. As a result of these inequalities, problems with the family justice system impact advantaged and disadvantaged groups differently.
The Family Roundtable was helpful in terms of bringing together representatives of a range of more or less economically advantaged groups, although not of differently economically placed system users. Discussions revealed that more effort is needed within the family justice system in order to have meaningful exchanges across profound class differences. For example, participants mentioned that the LCO should examine the following topics:
· links between custody, child protection and the social assistance regime;
· inappropriately low support orders made in favour of women on social assistance;
· custody issues for low income parents; and,
· revisiting the Family Responsibility Office[18] system to avoid results such as removing a parent’s main source of income, a trucker’s license for example.
Through on-going consultation, the LCO hopes to continue building bridges between these different groups in order to attempt to respond to their concerns and reduce class barriers to the justice system.
At the very least, the Roundtable discussions around class issues made clear that, in any of its projects, the LCO would need to start with the assumption that the Ontario population has unequal access to and power within the family justice system. This inequality results from many factors but very importantly from economic power differences. The LCO project will focus on finding better ways to enhance access to justice in a practical way, pragmatism being an important LCO value.[19]
5. Aboriginal Communities
It is interesting to note that many aspects of the intersectional analysis described in this paper relate to Aboriginal peoples, including cultural, gender, linguistic competency; class and the situation of people living in rural and remote areas. It is therefore important to respond to the specific needs of Aboriginal peoples.
Roundtable participants pointed out that both Aboriginal women and men were disproportionately involved in the family and criminal justice systems. Participants pointed out that not enough has been done in terms of developing dispute resolution mechanisms that are acceptable amongst Aboriginal communities. Some discussed the possibility of developing a specific and distinct dispute resolution system for these communities. The example of tribal courts in the United States was mentioned. Others explained that people on reserve were so busy with child protection issues that they did not want to apply to Legal Aid Ontario. Council or band representatives, people with the appropriate cultural background, and people, who may not be Aboriginal but understand the issues, should be more available and accessible to help solve family disputes.
6. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer and Intersexed Communities
Roundtable participants raised issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer and intersexed (LGBTQI) communities. These issues revolved mainly around LGBTQI persons’ rights as parents