About the Action Committee
Established by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin in 2007, the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters works towards improved access to justice for people in Canada.
The Action Committee 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. The Action Committee coordinates national metrics on justice, tracks progress through an annual report, and connects people to share innovations throughout the year and at its annual Summit.
A Steering Committee of volunteers coordinate annual events and administer the Action Committee. Committees of Action Committee members plan regional and national activities to advance access to justice.
Action Committee Members
The Honourable Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner, Honourary Chair
Provincial / Territorial Collaboratives
Barb Turner, Alberta Representative
Vacant, Alberta Representative
CJ Leonard Marchand, BC Representative
Tina Parbhakar, BC Representative
Natasha Brown, Manitoba Representative
Stacey Soldier, Manitoba Representative
Danie Roy, New Brunswick Representative
Michelle Thompson, New Brunswick Representative
Vacant, NL Representative
Vacant, Nova Scotia Representative
Charlene Moore, Nova Scotia Representative
Nalini Vaddapalli, Nunavut Representative
Vacant, Nunavut Representative
Karin Taylor, NWT Representative
Sheena Weir, Ontario Representative
Julie Mathews, Ontario Representative
CJ James Gormley, PEI Representative
Sophie MacDonald, PEI Representative
Sophie Vézina, Quebec Representative
Philippe-André Tessier, Quebec Representative
Brea Lowenberger, Saskatchewan Representative
Glen Gardner, Saskatchewan Representative
Vacant, Yukon Representative
Public / Equality Seeking Organizations
Cindy Blackstock, First Nations Caring Society
Janet Dench, Canadian Council of Refugees
Donna Walwyn, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
Vacant, Canada Race Relations Foundation
Scott Robertson, Indigenous Bar Association
Justice Sector Institutions
Doug Mitchell, American College of Trial lawyers
Vacant, Chamber of Notaries of Quebec
Doug Ferguson, Association for Canadian Clinical Legal Education
Camille Cameron, Canadian Council of Law Deans
Vacant, Pro Bono Organizations in Canada
Christine O’Doherty, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice
Clayton Conlan, Superior Court Judges Association
Kevin O'Shea, Public Legal Education Associations Canada / NL representative
Vacant, Canadian Judicial Council's A2J Committee
Peter Kingsley, Association of Legal Aid Plans
Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Justice Canada
Catherine MacKinnon, Justice Canada
Patricia Hebert, Canadian Bar Association
Vacant, P/T Deputy Ministers of Justice
Brenda Green, Todd Rambow, Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges
Scott Siemens, ADR Institute of Canada
Adrian Di Giovanni, International Development Research Centre
Tracy Bock, Federation of Law Societies
Vacant, Canadian Council of Chief Judges (provincial courts)
Trevor Farrow, Canadian Forum on Civil Justice
Josh Paterson, Association of Canadian Law Foundations
Shaunna Mireau, Canadian Association of Law Libraries
Guiding Principles
Put the Public First
Collaborate & Coordinate
Prevent & Educate
Simplify
Take Action
Focus on Outcomes
Steering Committee
Andromache Karakatsanis, Chair
Mark Benton, Vice-Chair
Ariane Charbonneau, Vice-Chair
Doug Ferguson
Patricia Hébert
Catherine McKinnon
Christine O'Doherty
Tracy Bock
Peter Kingsley
Philippe-André Tessier
Program Funding
The Action Committee receives program funding from the Law Foundations of BC, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick. Operational support is provided by Justice Canada, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, CIAJ and CFCJ.
Operational Support
