Month July 2023

Canadian Association of Black Lawyers Launches First-of-its-kind Study Examining Black Lawyers’ Experiences in Canada

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The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), with support from The Counsel Network and the TD Ready Commitment, has launched a survey to gather information about “the work experiences, career paths, opportunities and challenges encountered by Black lawyers in Canada”. In an interview with Law360, the president of CABL, Kyle Elliott observed that the legal profession “hasn’t always done a good job of [collecting and sharing data]”, adding that this study will contribute demographic data and important insights to the overall understanding of inequities and inequalities in the legal profession.

The survey includes questions aimed at collecting data on the Black experience in the legal profession related to:

  • Job interviews
  • Work environments
  • Opportunities for advancement
  • Support from mentors/sponsorship
  • Experiences within law firms, government, public and private companies are all examined.

The survey will remain open until 31 July, 2023. To access the survey in English or French, visit: https://cabl.ca/the-survey-examining-the-black-lawyers-experience-in-canada-is-live/.

Report Examines Legal Problems Experienced by First Nations People Living Off Reserve, Métis, and Inuit Living in the Provinces

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A new report by the Centre for Indigenous Statistics and Partnerships examines the types and prevalence of legal problems experienced by First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit. The 19 problems and disputes considered in the research are based on the serious problems identified in the 2021 Canadian Legal Problems Survey (CLPS).

Among the findings, the report reveals that:

  • A higher percentage of First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit experienced a serious legal problem in the past three years than non-racialized and non-Indigenous people
  • First Nations people living off reserve, Métis and Inuit experienced much higher rates of almost all 19 legal problem types than non-racialized and non-Indigenous people
  • Indigenous peoples experience problems related to discrimination at rates that are almost 2.5 times that of non-racialized/non-Indigenous people

Serious problems or disputes experienced by First Nations people living off reserve, Métis, and Inuit living in the provinces is co-authored by Tristan Marshall and Mohan B. Kumar. It is available on the Statistics Canada website in English here: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/41-20-0002/412000022023003-eng.htm.

Problèmes ou conflits graves vécus par les personnes des Premières Nations vivant hors réserve, les Métis et les Inuit vivant dans les provinces est disponible en français ici : https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/41-20-0002/412000022023003-fra.htm.

Canada’s Second Voluntary National Review Now Available

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Canada’s 2023 Voluntary National Review – A Continued Journey for Implementing the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals is now available in both official languages on the Government of Canada website. The report includes a message from Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau that highlights the interconnected nature of ongoing crises in economic, housing and food insecurity, climate change and other serious challenges in Canada and abroad. The Prime Minister’s introductory message also emphasizes the need to achieve gender equality and promote the empowerment of women and girls, and make progress on other UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The Voluntary National Review examines Canada’s achievements across the 17 SDGs. Canada is also tracking its work on advancing the SDGs through the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and the Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF).

The second Voluntary National Review provides details on ways that funding and other supports by Canada’s government to not-for-profit organizations, governments, academia, the private sector, Indigenous communities and organizations, women, youth and other stakeholders are helping to advance Canada’s national strategy. The review also highlights investments, milestones, and additional opportunities to implement the 2030 Agenda.

Canada’s 2023 Voluntary National Review – A Continued Journey for Implementing the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals is available in English here: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/agenda-2030/voluntary-national-review/2023-report.html.

Examen national volontaire 2023 du Canada – Une démarche continue à l’appui de la mise en œuvre du Programme 2030 et de l’atteinte des objectifs de développement durable est disponible en français ici : https://www.canada.ca/fr/emploi-developpement-social/programmes/programme-2030/examen-national-volontaire/rapport-2023.html.

Ontario Government Announces Investment in Digital Justice Platform

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The government of Ontario has announced funding of more than $160 million to support increased access to legal services online, and the transition from paper-based procedures to an online platform to access the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. The government indicates that these investments are being made to make it “easier and faster to resolve legal matters by moving more services online.”

Thomson Reuters has been contracted to deliver a new online justice platform aimed at providing the following capabilities for users:

  • Easier and faster document-filing online
  • The ability to digitally access court case information online
  • Online payment of fees
  • Virtually connect to hearings
  • Management of court appearances online
  • Receive decisions electronically

The news release about Ontario’s investment in a digital justice platform is available through Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General here: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1003292/ontario-investing-in-digital-justice-platform.

World Justice Project Report looks at Country-level Performance on UN SDG Civil Justice Indicator

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The World Justice Project (WJP) has unveiled new research at a high-level summit in New York that examines how 62 countries are performing on UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 16.3.3, the measure of access to informal and formal mechanisms to address non-criminal disputes. The report also presents country-level insights on the justice gap for more than 100 countries.

The graphical report reveals a prevalence of legal problem experiences within the two-year reference period of the WJP’s legal needs survey, and persistent unmet civil legal needs. Outside of access to formal and informal justice services, the report also confirms barriers to access adequate information to help resolve legal problems, a lack access to appropriate assistance or legal representation, and difficulties managing costs incurred during the problem resolution process. The report indicates estimated impacts of 1.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that derive from lost income, health issues and related problems that result from legal problem experiences.

Part I of the WJP Justice Data Graphical Report can be accessed online here: https://worldjusticeproject.org/wjp-justice-data-graphical-report-i. Part II of the report will be published in advance of the SDG Summit in September 2023.