About the Action Committee
Established by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin in 2007, the Action Committee on Access to Civil and Family Matters works towards improved access to justice for people in Canada.
Put simply, the current civil and family justice system is complex, slow and expensive, and often doesn’t produce outcomes that meet people’s needs. While many dedicated people work on access to justice, the system has not evolved at the scale that is needed to make it work for everyone. In short, major change is needed.
The Action Committee on Access to Civil and Family Matters brings people from all corners of Canada’s justice system together to propose and examine approaches on this critical issue. It adopted Canada’s Justice Development Goals to align the work of organizations across the country. Progress on the JDGs is published annually. The Action Committee coordinates national metrics on justice and connects people to share innovations throughout the year and at its annual Summit.
Guiding Principles for Change
- Put the Public First
- Collaborate & Coordinate
- Prevent & Educate
- Simplify
- Take Action
- Focus on Outcomes
The Action Committee works closely with justice sector organizations. In particular, The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice and the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice provide administrative, communications and research support.
Access to Justice Research Network
The Access to Justice Research Network (AJRN) aims to connect a wide range of justice stakeholders who are passionate about access to justice in Canada. Coordinated by the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice the AJRN allows its members to share research, resources and other material related to access to justice.
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© 2019 Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters