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Manitoba's Access to Justice Stakeholders
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A newsletter to connect Manitoba's A2J community
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This newsletter is an initiative directed at furthering engagement in the A2J community. Hosted through the Manitoba's Access to Justice Hub website, the newsletter is an axis to keep A2J actors connected to updates in their community, including achievements, developments, or changes in services across A2J organizations, as well as highlighting upcoming A2J events and prominent A2J news in the province. We encourage you to subscribe and participate in building a better connected A2J community in Manitoba.
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Resources for A2J Stakeholders
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Those of us working in the A2J space are well aware people's legal issues frequently intersect with social issues that are outside the sphere of what the legal system can effectively resolve. 211 Manitoba provides direction to resources that can help people meet their needs. 211 Manitoba is the front door to community-based government, community and social services designed to meet the needs of diverse populations, across all different aspects of life. It is a free, confidential service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 200 languages, including 4 Indigenous languages. Click the link here to see the topics they provide access to.
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Access to Justice Week 2025
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Manitoba's Access to Justice Week is an annual event co-hosted by the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, the Law Society of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Bar Association. The week brings together communities from across the province to engage in meaningful dialogue on improving access to justice for all Manitobans. The 2025 edition of Access to Justice Week will take place from October 27 to 31, 2025.
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Court of Appeal
- Half of the cases are criminal, and upwards of 2% are family (typically a self rep on one side)
Integrated Case Management System
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- Working on implementing the integrated case management (ICM) system to transform the court's paper-based system into a digital filing and electronic document management system
- People who file electronically will be able to do so from any location
- No longer necessary to travel to Winnipeg to submit paperwork
- At this moment it is taking longer than anticipated
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Virtual and Teleconference Hearings
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The Court currently offers virtual hearings and teleconference hearings in northern and remote communities:
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- Limited or no internet access hinders video hearings
- Teleconferencing fills the gap, though it has limitations
- No longer necessary to travel to Winnipeg to submit paperwork
- At this moment it is taking longer than anticipated
Court of King’s Bench
The work of ensuring efficient, meaningful and innovative access to justice remains a priority for the Court of King’s Bench. In both the General Division and the Family Division, transformative changes to the delivery of judicial services to Manitobans are delivering fair, timely and affordable access to justice.
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The General Division has had success with the one-judge model in civil proceedings. Under this model the same judge oversees all procedural steps, hears any motions, and presides over trials. Trial dates are set at the first pre-trial conference, creating predictable timelines for litigants and counsel. Few trials are adjourned under the one-judge model. Additionally, judicially assisted dispute resolution (JADR) is used within the General Division. Approximately 75% of cases that utilize JADR settle all disputed issues.
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In the realm of criminal law, the General Division’s assignment court projects and scheduling guidelines in The Pas, Thompson, and Winnipeg have reduced trial delays by ensuring early and more efficient pre-trial conferences and timelines for the fixing of hearing dates. This also includes the setting of early trial dates at the first pre-trial conference and requiring that sentencing hearings be set at the time that a conviction is entered where the sentencing is not already taking place at that time.
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The introduction of Criminal Rules also requires, from the time of the first pre-trial conference, an increased rigour for the assessment of issues to ensure particularly focused contested hearings and to encourage the resolution of cases or at least a narrowing of issues requiring adjudication.
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Changes in the Family Division in two key areas have created greater access to justice for Manitobans when they experience family breakdowns. Changes in rules and procedures in two principal areas have resulted in a nimble, cost-effective, and navigable family court process
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Child Protection Proceedings
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· February 2017 the CP Model was introduced in Winnipeg Centre and expanded throughout the province in December 2018 in judicial centres outside Winnipeg.
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· The CP Intake court provides families an opportunity for meaningful interaction with a specialist judge to address the issues that led to apprehension. Discussions are often intense with family reunification as the goal where possible
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· The enactment of federal Indigenous child welfare legislation and local Indigenous legislation (such as Peguis’ Honouring Our Children, Families and Nation Act) has enhanced the court’s ability to help Indigenous families in resolving issues that brought their children into care
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· Most matters (92%) resolve at the Intake Court. Very few matters proceed to trial for determination by an adversarial process
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Case Management in Family Proceedings
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· The features of the Family Division Case Management Model are:
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ACCESSIBILITY – mandatory early exchange of information aids parties in resolving disputes
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NAVIGABILITY – forms are accessible and use a checklist format
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TIME-LIMITED – strict timelines imposed so that every case has a defined and foreseeable end date. Trials cannot be adjourned without Chief Justice’s permission
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EARLY AND EFFECTIVE JUDICIAL INTERVENTION – emergent hearings to address family violence and denial of access to children are available with duty judges
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TRIAGE CONFERENCES – early opportunity to discuss the dispute with a judge with a view to resolution
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ONE JUDGE MODEL – Triage conference judge will be the case conference judge in some cases such as variations of orders
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EFFECTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT – each case conference must result in a meaningful step towards resolution or preparation for trial
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EFFECTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT – each case conference must result in a meaningful step towards resolution or preparation for trial
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THE END OF LITIGATION ABUSE – motions may only be filed with the permission of the case conference judge. No adjournments.
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PRIORITIZATION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE/ PARENTAL ALIENATION ISSUES – heard at the outset of the case, not at the end
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- 78% of cases resolve fully or partially at the first appearance before the triage conference judge
- 94% settlement rate prior to trial
The Court’s commitment to judicial reconciliation began in earnest in 2017 with the establishment of the Trust, Reconciliation and Access to Justice Committee (TRAC). Judges and Indigenous community members work together to advise Chief Justice Joyal on all aspects of judicial reconciliation. TRAC’s work is informed by four pillars:
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- Building trust and understanding with Indigenous communities through outreach and engagement
- Utilizing judicial education to increase awareness of the challenges and opportunities of judicial reconciliation
- Producing real change by identifying specific reconciliation initiatives to be implemented
- Normalizing the Court’s attentiveness to the unique access to justice issues faced by Indigenous communities and individuals
TRAC’s work has produced meaningful changes in the courtroom. For example, a sacred eagle feather is available at all Court counters and in all courtrooms throughout Manitoba. TRAC’s efforts help promote respectful inclusion and support culturally appropriate justice for Indigenous Manitobans.
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Provincial Court
The Provincial Court of Manitoba plays a central role in ensuring fair, timely, and accessible justice for all Manitobans. Over the past year, the Provincial Court has continued to be committed to improving access to justice by working to reduce delays, increase collaboration, and strengthen the Court's relationships with marginalized communities.
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The Provincial Court has been making progress in reducing its backlog, with a current goal of reducing the time to trial to approximately seven months, an objective it is close to achieving.
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Strengthening Community Courts
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The Provincial Court continues to invest in the development and enhancement of community courts in Winnipeg and throughout the rest of the province. These courts are designed to offer wraparound services to individuals navigating challenges related to homelessness, mental health, and additions.
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Engaging with Indigenous Communities
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Recognizing the need for improved justice outcomes for Indigenous peoples, the Provincial Court is working to build stronger, more meaningful relationships with the 63 Indigenous communities it serves. This includes increased outreach and direct engagement to understand better and respond to each community's unique access to justice needs.
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Modernizing the judiciary remains a key focus of the Provincial Court. While gender parity has been largely achieved, the bench still does not accurately reflect the racial and cultural diversity of Manitoba's population. To address this imbalance, the Provincial Court has expanded its outreach efforts to learn more about the barriers Indigenous and racialized individuals face in accessing judicial roles. These efforts aim to identify and support new pathways to the bench, ensuring that the judiciary becomes more representative of the communities it serves.
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Community consultations are being held to understand access to justice (A2J) needs and challenges, with the goal of collaboratively developing a responsive A2J pathway and building long-term commitment to working together.
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Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program
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The Sandbox Program provides a structured environment that allows individuals who are not lawyers an opportunity to apply to offer limited scope legal advice and assistance to increase access to justice. It also allows lawyers or law firms to pilot proposals for the delivery of legal services in innovative ways with the goal of increasing access.
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Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
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Registered charities or not-for-profits can apply to register as a CSO, and if approved, can offer legal services to clients through volunteer lawyers or a lawyer they hire, at no cost to their clients.
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Outreach to Indigenous Youth
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We continue to engage in outreach to both Indigenous and racialized youth, with lawyers and judges visiting schools to share their experiences and promote law as a career. We had planned to speak to approximately 800 students in Thompson and The Pas in June in partnership with the University College of the North, however due to the fires, these events had to be rescheduled . The hope is that some of these youth in the north will pursue law and eventually return and serve their home communities.
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The Trusted Intermediary Program
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We reached out to a number of social services agencies who deal with clients facing legal issues to make them aware of legal intermediary training offered by CLEA. When a need was identified to have some of CLEA’s resources available in other languages, we partnered with CLEA and Healthy Muslim Families to have materials translated into Somali, Arabic, and French
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Public Education Campaigns
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We held a series of education sessions to inform the public and social services agencies about how the Law Society can assist, the role of lawyers, and individual legal rights.
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Our new strategic plan includes a focus on support for internationally trained lawyers and the recent assignment of a staff member to enhance services for Francophone communities.
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An A2J public awareness project is underway. Research shows that most people face legal issues within five years, yet often don't recognize them as legal in nature, and when legal issues arise, people are more likely to turn to friends and family than professionals. The MBA is engaging in a campaign to raise public awareness of A2J agencies and the services they offer. The project targets rural communities to highlight and promote organizations improving access to justice. The campaign is open to everyone who wants to get involved. Organizations interested in being featured can contact Michelle Falk. Additional efforts include advocacy around unpaid articling positions, which especially impact internationally trained lawyers (ITLs). The Manitoba Bar Association has launched a new Section dedicated to supporting ITLs.
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Red River Métis Citizens remain underserved in the justice system. While often grouped under the broad term “Indigenous”, Red River Métis specific needs and experiences are distinct. For example, within the current court structure in Manitoba, Red River Métis access courts within the mainstream court system, as there are currently no courts specifically serving the Red River Métis Community. Engagement efforts often overlook their unique legal and cultural realities; tailored approaches are needed to ensure meaningful access to justice for Red River Métis Citizens.
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Indigenous Justice Strategy
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Released in March of 2024; the Indigenous Justice Strategy includes a tailored, distinctions-based approach which has a specific Métis chapter. Section 2: Priorities of Red River Métis as Represented by the Manitoba Métis Federation was developed specific to the distinctions-based priorities of the Red River Métis Community, ensuring they are recognized separately from broader Indigenous groups.
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Red River Métis Justice Strategy
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The Manitoba Métis Federation’s strategy takes a Citizen-centered approach, development was supported by federal funding, to identify access to justice priorities for Red River Métis Citizens. The strategy is guided by three core principles that were then applied to the Métis Priorities Chapter “Foundational Principles” within the Indigenous Justice Strategy.
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Red River Métis Community Justice Centre – Justice Navigation Program
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Established in 2024, the Red River Métis Community Justice Centre Justice Navigation Program assists Red River Métis Citizens in navigating the justice system. This program collaborates with internal Métis Justice Institute programs as well as other Manitoba Métis Federation departments, offering wraparound services for clients involved in the justice system. The Red River Métis Community Justice Centre should be noted as the only Red River Métis distinctions-based Community Justice Centre that tailors its services to the needs of Red River Métis Citizens.
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Red River Métis Court Work Program
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The Red River Métis Court Work Program facilitates and enhances access to justice by assisting and supporting Red River Métis Citizens in the court system. The Red River Métis Court Work Program provides two areas of service, in-court, and out-of-court services. The in-court services help Red River Métis Citizens with legal process navigation, provide court liaison and advocacy, provide youth advocacy and client support. The out-of-court services include assisting Red River Métis Citizens through legal education and outreach, providing culturally sensitive services, where applicable, and collaboration and partnership through referrals to internal and external programs.
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Red River Métis Justice Support Program
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The Red River Metis Justice Support Program focuses on the delivery of an efficient and effective reintegration process for Red River Métis Citizens in conflict with the justice system. The Justice Support Program assists individuals in identifying and accessing resources to overcome barriers and address basic needs. The Justice Support Program helps connect clients with Manitoba Métis Federation departments, release planning supports, justice specific programming, as well as programs and external service providers
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Red River Métis Community Justice Program
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The Red River Métis Community Justice Program is a Court Diversion Program that provides Red River Métis culturally appropriate justice alternatives that support the diversion of their Citizens from the mainstream justice system to a community-based alternative. It includes a province-wide diversion program with five workers serving seven regions, extending beyond Winnipeg to reach multiple communities. However, service gaps remain, and not all Red River Métis have access to the full range of supports.
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Future efforts focus on developing Red River Métis-specific approaches to justice, including adapting Gladue reports to reflect Red River Métis realities. While lessons can be drawn from First Nations models, the Red River Métis experience is distinct—particularly given that community structure is entirely different, and the Red River Métis have their own unique cultural identity and experiences.
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The proposed Justice Hub aims to create a one-stop physical space where multiple organizations can co-locate rent-free while maintaining their independence. This hub fosters collaboration, communication, and idea-sharing among groups to enhance access to justice, while reducing the need for clients to visit multiple locations.
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In partnership with the Manitoba Bar Association, low-cost, well-attended family law seminars are offered to both new and experienced lawyers. These programs keep legal professionals updated on current court requirements and aim to improve client services through ongoing education.
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Support for Lawyers in Northern Manitoba
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Recognizing the unique challenges faced by lawyers practicing in Northern Manitoba, this initiative provides incentives and support to encourage lawyers to live and work in these communities, moving away from the model of fly-in/fly-out counsel. The goal is to promote early, non-court solutions to legal issues and strengthen local legal presence.
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The First Nations Family Advocate Office, established by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in 2015, takes a holistic approach to supporting First Nations families involved with Child and Family Services. With a mandate to reunite families and bring children home, the office offers non-legal advocacy and refers clients to its legal division when needed. As a civil society organization under the Law Society, it provides legal services at no cost, with Legal Aid Manitoba covering filing fees in most cases. Their latest initiatives include a Family Rights Brochure to educate families about their rights during agency visits and support for individuals applying to class action settlements—such as those involving the children’s special allowance claim - helping 190 applicants avoid high legal fees.
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The Public Interest Law Centre focuses on systemic legal cases affecting many Manitobans, with key areas including consumer protection, environmental law, Indigenous rights, and equality and human rights. They work closely with Indigenous leadership and have represented two First Nations in forestry-related treaty rights cases, successfully settling agreements after initiating legal action. The Centre highlights the underrepresentation of urban Indigenous populations and is unique among Canadian legal aid offices for its civil law work. They are planning to revive their pro bono partner project and will be engaging with students and private bar lawyers on this project in the coming months.
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In recent years, Manitoba has undertaken a significant modernization of its family law framework. This legislative overhaul introduced The Family Law Act and The Family Support Enforcement Act, and amendments to several related statutes, which came into force on July 1, 2023, modernizing provisions and aligning provincial laws with the federal Divorce Act. These reforms reflect a strong commitment to improving access to justice by simplifying legal processes, reducing reliance on the courts, and making the system more navigable for self-represented individuals.
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In addition, Manitoba implemented the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, which came into effect in the province on February 1, 2024. This international treaty enables Manitoba families to establish, vary, and enforce child and spousal support orders across borders in participating countries. The International Child Support and Family Maintenance (Hague Convention) Act and its accompanying regulation provide the legal framework for this process, applying procedures under The Inter-jurisdictional Support Orders Act to international cases. This development significantly enhances access to justice for families with cross-border support obligations by offering a reliable and coordinated mechanism for international support applications and enforcement.
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The Family Resolution Service (FRS) is a branch within the Courts Division of Manitoba Justice that provides free legal and social supports, including out-of-court resolution options, to help families navigate separation and divorce.
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Expanded Family Justice Services
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The FRS has expanded its services with an increased emphasis on prevention, intervention, and restorative justice to support immediate and long-term family well being. This service expansion is focused on increasing access to family justice for low-to-middle income, Indigenous, newcomer, Francophone and 2SLGBTQIA+ families, and includes supports for survivors of intimate partner violence. The branch’s new expanded services include:
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- Enhanced triage coordination for high complexity cases that paths families to appropriate supports and services, and improved coordination of services for families experiencing mental health, child abuse, and family violence.
- Healthy relating supports to reduce and prevent conflict and violence while families navigate separation and divorce. These supports are delivered by Elmwood Community Resource Centre to provide tailored programming for newcomer and ethnocultural community members and the Brandon Friendship Centre to provide tailored programming for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit families. Both programs are available for all.
- Comprehensive mediation, family arbitration, and family coaching to help resolve family matters outside of court. These alternate dispute resolution options are delivered through Mediation Services, who hold rosters of professional mediators, lawyer mediators, and family arbitrators to deliver the services.
- Up to five hours of independent legal advice to support comprehensive mediation and family arbitration provided in partnership with Legal Aid Manitoba.
- Limited legal advice provided by our court operations specialists to families navigating court processes. These services are delivered as part of a pilot program with the Law Society of Manitoba’s Regulatory Sandbox Pilot initiative.
- Enhanced French language services through the co-design of an Access to Justice – Francophone Service Hub with L’Association des juristes d'expression française du Manitoba (AJEFM). Forthcoming co-location of branch services, AJEFM, and other justice services at the St. Boniface Courthouse will support Francophone families in accessing services to navigate separation or divorce, including intimate partner violence supports, in their language of choice.
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Recent Legislative Developments
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Manitoba’s Disclosure to Protect Against Intimate Partner Violence Act received Royal Assent on Nov. 3, 2022. The Act, also known as Clare’s Law, is an initiative to prevent and address intimate partner violence (IPV). The legislation and resulting program will enable individuals at risk of IPV or family violence to access information about their partner’s documented history of violence. The Act’s proposed regulations went to public consultation and concluded in May 2025, with proclamation and program implementation forthcoming.
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Initiatives in Development
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Over the next few years, the FRS anticipates to further address access to family justice gaps via initiatives that have been identified through engagements and consultations with community and service providers. These initiatives will be further co-developed with our Family Justice Collaboration Table and community partners, and may include:
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- Holistic programming for children and youth whose families are experiencing separation and divorce, including those vulnerable to IPV/FV. Potential programming, aimed at contributing to overall mental health and wellbeing, may include culturally informed assessments, therapeutic supports, recreational programming, and psychoeducation on trauma and healthy relationships.
- Translate family justice informational materials into multiple languages, while ensuring not to duplicate existing efforts.
- Provide presentations for Elders, knowledge keepers, community leaders, and community organizations on available family justice services to increase community capacity to refer to family justice services.
- Develop print packages of family justice materials, translated as appropriate, for rural, remote, and northern Manitoban communities without access to internet.
- Host publicly available computer kiosks at FRS locations for families to access online forms, information and print documentation.
- Short-term childminding services so families can access family justice services (for example, meeting with a victim services worker, attending mediation, partaking in family evaluation interview, etc.)
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The Manitoba Law Reform Commission (MLRC) is an independent agency established in 1970 under The Law Reform Commission Act. Its mandate is to improve, modernize, and reform the laws and administration of justice in Manitoba. The Commission conducts research, consults with stakeholders, and makes formal recommendations to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
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Recently relocated to the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law from the Woodsworth building
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Goal: improve, modernize, and inform Manitoba law
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Current focus is on assisted decision-making agreements
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Information and resources available via website link
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Plans to deliver consultations and reports
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An assisted decision-making agreement is a document that can be used by a person who experiences challenges in making decisions to grant legal authority to another person to support them in their decision-making process and in communicating their decisions to others. This form of arrangement can also be called a representation or supported decision-making arrangement. The Commission will consider whether Manitoba should provide for these types of arrangements within legislation, and if so, who should be able to use one, what sort of decisions should be included and what that legislation should look like.
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This independent not-for-profit supports legal education, legal research, legal aid services, law reform and law libraries through grants funded by interest on lawyers’ trust accounts. Despite a 15.5% revenue decline from the prior year , FY 2024/25 was the Foundation’s second highest year of revenues from interest earned on lawyer trust accounts totalling $27.1 million.
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In FY 2024/25, the Foundation paid $21 million in allocated statutory grants (including 50% to legal aid and 16.67% to the Law Society of Manitoba) and awarded $10 million in discretionary grants. Three new bursaries were established, totaling $4.5 million in grant funds. All core operating grant recipients received multi year grants (2-3 years) for the first time in the Foundation’s history.
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In January, the organization launched a new and accessible website in both official languages designed for a broader audience beyond lawyers. A planned office moves this summer to a larger space will allow the Foundation to host grant recipients and facilitate informal collaboration like “lunch conversations” as well as professional development opportunities. There are plans to hire additional staff, including a position focused on creating and managing a grant program aimed at expanding access to justice initiatives in northern and rural Manitoba. The new grant program will be supported by a newly created strategic reserve fund.
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Clinical programs at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law continue to grow. In the 2024-25 school year, 55 third-year students were enrolled in a clinical externship program. Externships with internal clinics and field placements are available. Some clinical students are working on access to justice projects with programs like the International Human Rights Clinic, the Public Interest Law Centre, and the Manitoba Law Reform Commission. In addition to the traditional 12-credit hour externship program, there are also 3-credit hour internship opportunities.
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The University of Manitoba Community Law Centre (UMCLC) is led by Director Allison Fenske. While the UMCLC has primarily been focused on criminal matters, it has now expanded to formally include family law. Externship students may have the opportunity to represent Legal Aid clients in uncontested divorces. The UMCLC also created the prison law clinic in 2024 which provides services Stony Mountain Institution.
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The Northern Legal Aid externship, run through the UMCLC, offers a student the opportunity to live and work in Thompson. The student participates in circuit court in several northern communities. The externship is worth 12 credit hours. A student enrolled in this externship in summer 2024. The UMCLC is hoping to have a student enroll for the fall 2025 semester.
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The L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic takes on about 20 externship students each year. The Legal Clinic for the Arts, a branch of the Vickar Clinic, was established in 2023. The Legal Clinic for the Arts is the only clinic in Manitoba that is targeted exclusively towards artists.
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The Indigenous Legal Clinic added a wills clinic service this past year. Externship students will continue to have the opportunity to service the wills clinic in the 2025-26 school year.
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The Indigenous Legal Clinic is also planning to expand to address human rights and economic reconciliation issues. The International Human Rights Clinic launched in 2024 and is designed to promote and protect human rights at a regional, national, and international level. Law student Tréchelle Bunn, now Chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, travelled to Geneva this past year with the clinic (in collaboration with the Southern Chiefs Organization).
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The Law Library Hub is hosted in the Great Library at the Winnipeg Law Courts. Externship students provide legal information for civil and family law matters and help individuals with court forms.
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Students in the Rights Clinic course have partnered with the Prison Law Committee to provide information about human rights to incarcerated individuals. The students recently ran a workshop in Headingley Correctional Institution
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The Internationally Trained Lawyer Program, Equity, and Transformation
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“Nothing about us, without us.” - The Internationally Trained Lawyer Program’s guiding statement.
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In 2024, Laurelle Harris, KC, was appointed in 2024 as the inaugural Director of the Internationally Trained Lawyer (ITL) Program, Equity and Transformation at the Faculty of Law. The ITL Program is a new program of study offered by the Faculty of Law that is designed to help internationally trained lawyers meet the requirements for licensure in Canada. In May 2025, the Program issued offers to its first cohort, which includes diverse global representation. The Program hopes to support students through bursaries and to offer 3-credit hour clinical opportunities to students.
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Alongside the ITL Program, the Internationally Trained Lawyer Advisory Group aims to confront deficit frameworks and provide multi-pronged solutions, including educating firms on the value of equity and inclusion. The group includes voices from all across Manitoba, public law, regulators, the francophone legal community, and the Manitoba Bar Association. The group hopes to address the issue of unpaid articling positions.
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Beyond her role in the ITL Program, Ms. Harris is working to increase student equity and representation in the Faculty of Law. She is striving to support students’ wellbeing as they experience law school, with a focus on racialized students.
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AJEFM/Infojustice Manitoba’s mandate is to increase access to justice in French in Manitoba. AJEFM works to improve access to justice in French through lobbying, advocating, and collaborating with bodies such as the government and the Law Society. Infojustice is an initiative of AJEFM that aims to increase access to justice through the legal services and workshops it provides to the public. AJEFM/Infojustice is a civil society organization that offers legal advice and representation in specific cases, as well as legal information in all areas of law.
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Infojustice holds 50-60 legal information workshops per year. Additionally, over 1,000 legal consultations are held annually for areas such as family law, immigration law, employment law, and small claims. Infojustice hosts yearly CPD sessions for French-speaking lawyers in collaboration with the Law Society.
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There has been an increase in the number of asylum seekers using Infojustice’s resources. Because of this, Infojustice is currently expanding to better serve asylum seekers coming from French-speaking countries to Manitoba. It provides assistance to asylum seekers by setting up Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) portals, helping obtain work permits, and connecting individuals with Legal Aid to acquire a French-speaking lawyer. Infojustice also represents clients dealing with intimate partner violence. It is collaborating with shelters and counselors to better serve these individuals.
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New Partnerships and Projects
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The Residential Tenancy Dispute Project focuses on assisting tenants with legal challenges. The Project aims to provide legal advice, information, and workshops for the promotion of tenant rights in Manitoba. Infojustice is also collaborating with Family Resolution Services (FRS) to better serve francophones accessing family law services. Infojustice is co-locating its offices in St. Boniface with FRS and helping deliver various family law workshops. Infojustice will also assist FRS in delivering the For the Sake of the Children (Pour l’amour des enfants) course in French and adapting it to the needs of newcomers.
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Student and Youth Engagement
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Infojustice hosts summer students and an articling student each year. Currently, it has four summer students and one articling student. Infojustice is also working to encourage youth to explore the possibility of a bilingual career.
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Forward-Looking Philosophy
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AJEFM/Infojustice emphasizes innovation and adapting lawyer mindsets to focus on clients’ real needs, rather than traditional conceptions. AJEFM/Infojustice balances projects, grants, and legislative change with the importance of serving people effectively. It is currently encouraging the nominations of more French-speaking judges. AJEFM/Infojustice is also involved in clarifying language rights set out in the Law Society’s Professional Code of Conduct, and is working on bringing about legislative changes to normalize the use of French in Manitoba courts.
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Over the past year, Perrie Law has remained committed to advancing equitable, community-centred, and culturally respectful access to justice across Nunavut and Manitoba. Guided by the core values of collaboration, innovation, inclusion and advocacy, the firm has made significant contributions in the following ways:
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Community-Based Legal Services
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- Perrie Law provided in-person ongoing legal services and support through the Nunavut Circuit Court, ensuring individuals in remote and isolated communities had consistent access to justice.
- The firm also conducted legal outreach across Nunavut, which included Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Arctic Bay, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay and Pangnirtung. Offering free legal information sessions, workshops, and one-on-one consultations, all of which were in partnership with the Law Society of Nunavut.
Language & Cultural Accessibility
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- Perrie Law engaged with local interpreters and translators to ensure that clients could communicate and understand their proceedings in their preferred language, including Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun.
Capacity Building & Legal Education
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- Perrie Law designed and delivered Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions aimed at equipping lawyers with trauma-informed and culturally competent approaches to practice in Northern communities.
- Perrie Law is also actively recruiting new lawyers to serve in Nunavummiut.
Systems Change & Policy Leadership
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Perrie Law co-authored and published the landmark report, Northern Lights, Southern Justice: Charting a Course for Inuit-Focussed Legal Services, which outlines Inuit-centred legal services and documents the lived experiences of legal service provisions in Nunavut.
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- Upcoming release: Gladue Application on Inuit Offenders across Nunavut and Manitoba. Perrie Law has also announced a new report that will highlight and examine how the courts currently interpret and implement Gladue while evaluating its limitations and potential for adaptations in an Inuit context.
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Other Noteworthy Initiatives: Kíwétinohk Consulting
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Victoria Perrie and Sunday Queskekapow are the co-founders of Kíwétinohk Consulting, which is rooted in increasing access to justice through culturally grounded Gladue Reports and Indigenous-led training. There is an ongoing systemic lack of accessible Gladue Reports, especially in northern and remote communities, where there is insufficient capacity to meet these demands. To help meet this need, Sunday and Victoria are collaborating with technology developers to create a language-based tool that streamlines report writing, reduces delays, lowers costs, and improves consistency, all while maintaining cultural integrity.
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In addition, Victoria and Sunday are seeking to expand the pool of qualified Gladue writers by developing a Gladue Report Writing Training Program. The training program aims to increase the representation of writers from Indigenous, Two-Spirit, trans, and neurodivergent community members. Additionally, the program seeks to embed Indigenous knowledge, storytelling, and healing practices into the training. The program will also prioritize lived experiences and will ideally train local community members to reduce reliance on outsiders. Lastly, the program will integrate supportive technologies without compromising or replacing the human and cultural integrity essential to this work.
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Legal Help Centre (LHC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing access to justice and reducing barriers for low-income and underserved Manitobans. We provide free legal information, self-representation support, system navigation, and referrals to external resources.
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Our work is made possible thanks to the generous support of our partners and donors, like the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law and the Manitoba Law Foundation. LHC assists clients in many areas of law, with the most common being family law, civil matters, and wills and estates through our drop-in legal clinic. Alongside service delivery, we are committed to creating meaningful learning opportunities for students and volunteer engagement.
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Over the past year, we updated our Financial Eligibility criteria to broaden access and support more individuals in need. We continued to engage law students through externships, and in 2024 expanded our reach through additional internship placements. In the upcoming year, we’re excited to serve as a clinical placement site for the University of Manitoba’s program for internationally trained lawyers.
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We also benefit from the contributions of social work students from the University of Manitoba, and Criminal Justice and Human Rights students from the University of Winnipeg, who provide valuable interdisciplinary support. Students play a vital role in client services, assisting with meetings (in person and by phone) and working with our small staff to provide limited-scope legal assistance.
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We’ve been able to expand our core programming by adding an additional legal clinic day starting this summer. We also continue to collaborate with community partners to increase our impact and better serve our clients.
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Legal Help Centre’s Relocation Update
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We’re excited to share an important update about Legal Help Centre. Due to the upcoming re-development of our current location in Portage Place Mall, we will be relocating. In doing so, we’re embarking on a space sharing collaboration with another mission-driven organization.
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Starting September 2, 2025, we will be joining Welcome Place at their offices at 521 Bannatyne Avenue. Our Drop-in Clinic will resume on September 16, 2025, at this new location.
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This interim move enables us to continue delivering uninterrupted service to our community and opens the door to new possibilities for growth and positive impact, while the Legal Aid Manitoba Justice Hub project takes shape. We're enthusiastic about this next chapter and the potential this brings to further our mission.
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All services will continue as usual, and our contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, will remain unchanged.
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We are grateful for your continued support, patience and partnership as we navigate this period of transition. We look forward to welcoming you to our new space. If you have any questions or need assistance connecting with us, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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General Line: 204-258-3096
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General Email: info@legalhelpcentre.ca
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Community Legal Education Association (CLEA) provides legal information to Manitobans through several services. CLEA has four permanent staff and three staff on contract; it relies heavily on volunteers to deliver presentations, write publications, and create videos.
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Law Phone-In & Lawyer Referral Program
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For this program, two staff lawyers provide legal information and summary advice to Manitobans. The lawyers make referrals to a variety of law-related agencies. They also make referrals to the lawyers on their Lawyer Referral Panel. Referral lawyers provide a free half-hour initial consultation; after the first consultation, the client can hire the lawyer. The most frequent area of law dealt with in this program is family law; other common areas are civil and small claims, wills and estates, criminal law, and employment law.
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Community groups, schools, and other organizations may request presentations on legal information. CLEA has about sixty lawyers who deliver these presentations. Recently, seniors’ organizations have requested presentations on wills, estates, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
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Two series of webinars are offered each year–one in the spring, and one in the fall. Link
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Online Community Legal Intermediary Training Course
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CLEA offers a legal intermediary training course in an online format. There are nine modules, including an introductory session and modules on dispute resolution, small claims court, family law, criminal law, youth criminal justice, residential tenancies, and wills and estates. People can take all the modules or can choose based on interest. The modules consist of both text and videos. CLEA is hoping to update the course this coming year. Link
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Plain Language Publications
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CLEA has a variety of plain language publications. The main subject areas are family law, family violence, youth justice, wills and estates, and employment law. Link
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Through CLEA, lawyers present to students about topics such as law as a career, family law, and criminal law. Short case summaries with discussion questions are provided to teachers for further learning. CLEA has also developed lesson plans, mock trials, and a Youth Criminal Justice Act Teaching Kit. Link
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CLEA’s website contains over 500 FAQs in 12 areas of law; information for unrepresented litigants in the areas of family law, wills and estates, small claims court, criminal law, and administrative law; and 86 videos on both substantive and procedural law. Link
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Victims of Intimate Partner Violence Project
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The Victims of Intimate Partner Violence Project has entered its fourth year. A hotline for victims has been set up. CLEA has also delivered 45 workshops on various aspects of intimate partner violence. The Project ends in March 2026. Link
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Workplace Sexual Harassment Project
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The Workplace Sexual Harassment Project, which began in March 2025, is a continuation of a previous project that ended in March 2024. The Project has two components: presentations and a hotline. The Project ends in March 2027. Link
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CLEA is creating seven videos on topics of common concern to tenants: safety concerns, orders for repair, security deposit disputes, rent increases, the landlord’s right to enter the premises, getting out of a lease, and the importance of tenants’ insurance. CLEA will translate the video scripts into French and will create a series of fact sheets in English, French, and large print.
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The Prison Libraries Committee (PLC) was started in 2012 with the goal of providing all provincial prisons with library services, including books, writing workshops, and author visits. Access to information, legal and otherwise, is a human right that does not stop upon incarceration; the PLC is working to make sure that human right is met within an information-depriving prison system.
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The Legal Information for Incarcerated Manitobans (LIIM) Initiative began as a proof-of-concept project in 2023 and is now funded by the Manitoba Law Foundation in partnership with the Manitoba Law Library and the PLC. The initiative has curated legal information collections for each of the six provincial prisons. It has successfully delivered the collection into four prisons; it is still working to get the collection into the remaining two prisons. The Manitoba Law Library’s toll-free number is now included in the prison synergy system thanks to efforts of the PLC and LIIM. LIIM works with the University of Manitoba’s Rights and Prison Law clinics to create FAQs, infographics, and in-person presentations to provide legal information to people who are incarcerated. It is working with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission to create an information presentation for incarcerated Manitobans about human rights. Additionally, LIIM is developing a graphic novel that will be disseminated to all Manitoba provincial prisons. Only two people are working on this Project twice a week. As such, it relies heavily on volunteers and collaborations with the legal clinics listed above, and other organizations like the John Howard Society and the Elizabeth Fry Society.
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To check out the legal information catalogue and some of the resources created, please visit the LIIM website. To learn more and to donate to the Prison Libraries Committee, you may find the link to its book wishlist on the Manitoba Library Association website.
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The Community Unemployed Help Centre (CUHC) supports people with Employment Insurance (EI) and Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) issues. CUHC connects with potential clients promptly and typically meets with individuals within two days of being contacted. Ideally, CUHC staff will communicate informally with case workers to resolve issues; however, they will also represent clients during formal appeal processes, including before administrative federal Social Security Tribunals and the provincial Social Services Appeal Board.
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It is more difficult to access EI now than at any previous time. Approximately one-third of unemployed people have not contributed to EI and therefore cannot access this safety net when they lose their job. Additionally, EI requires that an unemployed individual have lost their job for the “right” reason–for example, by being laid off or quitting with cause. Those who quit have difficulty receiving EI, despite many of them quitting for an understandable reason (such as a toxic workplace or bullying). Finally, many people cannot access EI because they have not worked enough insurable hours. Certain groups, such as newcomers and youth, are particularly vulnerable, as theirs are often the first positions to be terminated during an economic downturn. And women, though they statistically contribute more into EI, are 12% less likely to be able to access EI. Because of these factors, only one-third of unemployed individuals are able to access Employment Insurance.
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CUHC is working to ensure that those who are entitled to benefits from income security programs will receive them.
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Mediation Services provides restorative processes in criminal, family, and neighbourhood conflicts, in addition to offering conflict engagement and mediation skills training.
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Mediation Services participates in restorative justice court diversion. It receives files from the Winnipeg Police Service and the Crown and invites parties to explore the impact of harms and how to move forward. It has recently hired a Justice & Repair caseworker who works closely with Victim Services to support individuals who have experienced harm.
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Mediation Services’ community program receives calls from the public (and through referrals from 311) and offers conflict coaching, and restorative processes for interpersonal conflicts between neighbours, families and groups.
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In a new program, Mediation Services offers services to parents going through divorce and separation. Family mediators are on staff and work with the parents (and their lawyers, as needed) to create a separation or divorce agreement and/or parenting plan, which can then be filed with the courts. Mediation Services also coordinates mediation-arbitration for families who are stuck on one or two issues. The organization has a strong partnership with Evans Pollock Family Law and together are building a roster of collaborative family law professionals. The Family Mediation program is delivered to community with a sliding scale and might be free depending on circumstances.
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Mediation Services has recently launched a monthly “community of practice” gathering for community mediators who want to practice and/or prepare for the ADR Institute of Canada’s (ADRIC) mediation designations.
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In April 2025, Mediation Services received a three-year federal grant to further support parents who are preparing for family mediation. Mediation Services has hired a Family Mediator/Facilitator to build out curriculum for mediation preparation workshops and will be collaborating with other organizations in doing so.
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There are a few challenges that Mediation Services is facing:
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- Lack of administrative support (most grants don’t support this).
- Considering the case load, staff team feel stretched and stressed (aka short-staffed).
- Increase in theft cases in the Restorative Justice Diversion program with limited participation from bigger retailers.
- Increasing mental health challenges of diversion clients adds to the complexity of the work and the length of time agreements are monitored.
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The Manitoba Council of Administrative Tribunals (MCAT) represents adjudicative tribunals in Manitoba. MCAT provides in-person justice to a significant number of Manitobans. Upwards of sixty tribunals are members of MCAT, including the Residential Tenancies Board, the Manitoba Labour Board, the Social Services Appeal Board, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, Workers Compensation Board and Appeal Commission, and the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission (“AICAC”).
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People who come before tribunals are often self-represented and without the resources to obtain legal help. They may also be supported by non-legally trained independent advocates, such as workers from the Community Unemployed Help Centre, Claimant Advisors (AICAC), Worker Advisors (Workers Compensation Board and Appeal Commission) or family members. Tribunals are vital for providing opportunities to Manitobans for in-person advocacy.
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MCAT coordinates and offers educational opportunities to tribunal members. It offers three annual programs: a conference designed to address current issues of general interest to tribunal members; training for new tribunal members; and a decision-writing course instructing members on how to write effective decisions in plain language.
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The Manitoba Human Rights Commission is an independent agency of the Manitoba government responsible for enforcing the Manitoba Human Rights Code. The Commission’s central role is administering the human rights complaints process; it helps individuals who have experienced discrimination to file and resolve complaints. The Commission then determines whether complaints should be moved to the tribunal arm of the system.
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Currently, the Commission is struggling with significant delays. Although its purpose is to offer a timelier avenue of justice, it is having difficulty fulfilling that mandate.
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In 2022, amendments to Manitoba legislation changed the province’s human rights procedures. These procedural changes include the ability for summary dismissals, centralized gatekeeping decisions, and other initiatives aimed at timeliness. Unfortunately, complainants feel that the system is more complex with summary dismissals, highlighting the challenge of reaching an access to justice balance. There will continue to be procedural changes in processes and transparency.
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The Commission has several projects and initiatives working to advance access to justice. It continues to invest in mediation and ADR, with a focus on culturally appropriate mediation. Because of mediation and ADR, almost no complaints culminate in a hearing; the Commission wishes to strengthen this work. The Commission is also translating key resources into over twenty languages. It plans to expand its translation efforts, and its resources will soon include ASL videos. To enhance partnerships in communities, the Commission is hosting intake clinics in communities across Manitoba. The Commission’s Right to Read Project is exploring ways to enhance literacy and access to information across Manitoba. Recognizing that literacy issues are an access to justice barrier, the Project is focused on removing hurdles that limit the right to read.
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The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba (EFry) recently received funding confirmation to open a house in partnership with Equal Housing Initiative. The house, which opened July 10/25 and is fully staffed, has approximately twelve transitional beds for women leaving custody. Additional programming at the house includes cooking classes and spiritual care; because the house is new, the services continue to develop. Women can graduate from a transitional bed to another EFry house (located adjacent to the transitional house) that allows for more independent living. EFry also recently hired its first peer support and housing workers.
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At the Root Consulting Gladue Writers
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At the Root Consulting currently offers the authoring of private Gladue reports, providing Indigenous people convicted of criminal offences the opportunity to share their story in a dignified way. Gladue reports are also an opportunity to provide much needed context about life experiences or circumstances that are typically absent from pre-sentence reports which do not inform the courts about the impacts of colonization on a person’s life.
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Depending on a variety of factors, Gladue reports can range between 25-50+ pages long and examine the impact of a number of factors including systemic discrimination, racism, ableism, the impacts of residential and day school on the family, and other factors which are symptomatic of systemic discrimination including poverty, abuse, and health-related factors.
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There is currently a lack of accessible funding programs or opportunities for Indigenous peoples who wish to access private Gladue reports. While some Indigenous communities or organizations have their own dedicated writers, there are not enough writers or support resources overall to address the significant overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples who are receiving custodial sentences.
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It is important for the courts to begin accepting and acknowledging Indigenous peoples’ experiences of violence, such as unreported violence from police or unreported sexual assaults, as this denial of experience by the courts contributes to re-traumatization of individuals and perpetuates harmful narratives that naturalize the violence Indigenous peoples and communities experience. In addition to this, improving competencies around anti-racism, disability justice, and Indigenous ceremonial and spiritual healing practices can contribute to reduced recidivism by providing individuals with the supports they need and want to be able to thrive.
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Ending Homelessness Winnipeg efforts revolve around four key pillars: (1) Housing supply; (2) Measurement and evaluation; (3) Person-centred support; and (4) Prevention. Currently, work is underway to update the Ending Homelessness Winnipeg website, and several other access to justice initiatives. These projects include the Duty to Assist Movement, which explores what statutory reforms might look like to prevent youth homelessness better. Ending Homelessness Winnipeg hosted an event focused on legislation regarding youth homelessness and has since contracted three young adults with lived experiences to analyze the breakout discussions from the event.
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Ending Homelessness Winnipeg has also been bringing attention to youths aging out of care and the risks involved. The Right to Home Project conducts a comprehensive review of the existing supports and gaps in Winnipeg's transition services for youth. In response, Ending Homelessness Winnipeg held a youth forum that brought together 20 First Nations youth with lived experiences to identify and prioritize structural advocacy needs.
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The Holistic Ongoing Opportunities Development-Facilitation and Management Services Inc (HOODFAMS) organization is dedicated to fulfilling its mission of preventing immigrant and refugee youth from the Justice system and or gang culture involvement through education and tailored support services.
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To address systemic inequities and empower marginalized newcomers’ youth.
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To prevent Youth from Justice System and Gang involvement through Education and Tailored support services.
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Our targeted program focuses on vulnerable newcomer youth aged 12-29, who face heightened risks of involvement in the justice system and gang affiliations.
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We implement a comprehensive approach encompassing one-to-one prevention support, community safety services, mental health provisions, specialized gang disaffiliation programs, court diversion support services, and access to safe drop-in facilities.
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Through strategic collaboration with stakeholders, including governmental agencies, community partners, and advocacy groups, we endeavor to cultivate a supportive environment conducive to positive youth development and societal integration.
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Healthy Muslim Families emerged in 2020 in response to growing access to justice needs, especially among newcomers, refugees and other racialized communities. While services are open to all, the majority of clients are from the Muslim community. Healthy Muslim Families has staff trained in several languages and has been involved in numerous projects, including legal webinars, document translation, and assisting with immigration-related matters, among others. Healthy Muslim Families regularly collaborates with partners like CLEA, the Legal Help Centre and Pro Bono Students Canada.
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Notable Projects and Upcoming Initiatives:
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- Refugee Claimant Support Project: Offering individuals help with court forms, translating documents (notably in Arabic and Somali), and providing preparation for legal appointments and upcoming hearings.
- Sandbox Program: Since Healthy Muslim Families now operates as a recognized civil society organization, they are now a part of the Sandbox Project in collaboration with the Law Society of Manitoba. Healthy Muslim Families offers weekly family law clinics and monthly immigration clinics, now accessible virtually to individuals across Manitoba and beyond.
- Direct Legal Representation: Healthy Muslim Families has also recently taken on its first Legal Aid case, with plans to expand their caseload in the future.
- Youth Outreach: Healthy Muslim Families have offered court tours and legal career talks to students in an effort to improve representation in the legal profession.
- Capacity Building Project: Catered to Equity-Led Organizations who lack resources or infrastructures. Over the past year, Healthy Muslim Families has mentored three organizations, with a fourth one underway.
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Fisher River Cree Nation is actively engaged in delivering culturally grounded prevention and intervention services to address the needs of the community, such as homelessness, addictions and mental health. With a strong focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle, Fisher River Cree Nation offers culturally relevant programming, including drum-making and Sundance ceremonies. They also regularly distribute self-care packages directly to the homes of community members. The Fisher River Cree Nation has established meaningful partnerships with organizations such as the Joy Smith Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing human trafficking. Fisher River Cree Nation also receives referrals from the RCMP and the Crown, maintaining regular virtual meetings with Crown representatives and working to rebuild trust with law enforcement.
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Fisher River Cree Nation currently operates a diversion program. Additionally, it is in the process of establishing a community justice centre, which would expand access to essential services, including victim support, youth justice services, First Nations policing, and more. Further efforts include implementing a community sentencing circle and hiring a dedicated mediation worker. Lastly, to enhance communication and outreach, the Fisher River Cree Nation has developed a webpage to promote its services and is working towards launching a podcast to raise awareness and share vital information more broadly.
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Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is the largest pro bono organization in the country, providing free legal support to individuals and communities facing barriers to justice. Operating on a highly volunteer-driven model, PBSC engages law school students from 22 chapters across Canada to contribute their time and skills in support of access to justice initiatives. Volunteer placements fall into three main categories: legal research, public education, and clinical legal experience. Each year, PBSC partners with numerous community organizations, offering law students valuable, hands-on learning opportunities while also delivering much-needed legal assistance.
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Habeas Corpus Proceedings: Striking a Balance between Efficiency and Liberty
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Alexandra Gagnon A tool meant to silence abusive litigants may now be muffling the voices of people who need the courts the most. Vexatious litigant provisions to curb abusive or repetitive filings have been applied in Alberta courts – but do vexatious litigant orders inadvertently block legitimate applications brought forward by incarcerated people? This blog post will examine how Alberta’s …
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Can AI be used to reduce delays in the Canadian legal system?
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Scott Riddle, University of Alberta Law Student January 9, 2025 With artificial intelligence (AI) seemingly entrenching itself into the ethos of society and with more advancements on the inevitable horizon, it is time for the justice system to be proactive in its approach to such powerful technology. By working to develop or integrate Canadian justice with an AI tool, courts …
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A2J Week 2025: Making Rights Real: A Vision for Providing Accessible Legal Services
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https://youtu.be/6vfzirldD5Y Through the discussion of real-world based scenarios, this panel of experts with legal and/or accessibility experience, provided suggestions on how lawyers could and should provide accessible legal services. Moderator: Janell Jackson (Moderator), Law student, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law & MBA Equality Section Co-Chair Janell Jackson is a third year law student at the University of Manitoba, holding …
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A2J Week 2025: AI and Access to Justice: Promise, Pitfalls, and Practice
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https://youtu.be/-ZZbbMqezBA Everyone is talking about AI and how it will reshape our lives, including how we access justice. Whether you are a lawyer, law student or member of the public, there are key things to understand when using AI for help with a legal matter. This panel included: A brief overview of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) Law …
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A2J Week 2025: Access to Justice through Art and Media
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https://youtu.be/fRv4qrDOXis Focusing on podcasting, radio, murals, and graphic novels, this Zoom webinar event highlights the role of art and media in breaking down legal barriers. Through discussions with creators and advocates, the event will demonstrate how these mediums can educate, empower, and connect communities to their rights and the legal system. Moderator: Quinn Saretsky, Gladue Writer, At the Root Consulting …
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