In November of 2013, Alberta Justice and Solicitor General convened leaders in the civil and family justice system at a “Joint Action Forum” to begin a process to improve access to justice in Alberta’s civil and family justice system.

A summary report, entitled “What Was Heard”, captures the discussions that took place at Joint Action Forum and is now available online.

This effective report lays out several “visions” for the Alberta civil and family justice system. These visions paint a picture of a justice system that:

• Provides Albertans with the skills and information needed to avoid, manage and resolve legal conflicts;
• Empowers Albertans to address underlying problems that often motivate legal disputes;
• Offers user-friendly dispute resolution options that meet the needs of the public;
• Ensures legal services are affordable and available;
• Makes accessible strong supportive informal pathways to justice; and
• Develops a stronger capacity for innovation.

Beyond these visions the report details the many suggestions and recommendations made by participants and outlines “next steps” for develpoing an action plan for Alberta.

To read the full report click here.

The report can also be accessed via the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General website by clicking here.