Opinion

The Role of Libraries in Enhancing Access to Justice in Canada

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By: Lou Lamari, Articling Student-at-Law (University of Manitoba Faculty of Law) In Manitoba and across the country, libraries contribute meaningfully to civic engagement and community well-being, serving as important partners in the broader access to justice (A2J) ecosystem. The Canadian Federation of Library Associations states a mission for Canadian libraries to provide “free access to […]

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How K-12 Math and Reading Contribute to A2J

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By: Lou Lamari, Articling Student-at-Law, University of Manitoba Faculty of Law In the most recent Throne speech, the Manitoba government pledged to mandate a dedicated unit on financial literacy for Grade 9 students. Providing programming to build essential skills and knowledge to help youth navigate society as consumers is a positive move, and this initiative

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Manitoba is Increasing Its Small Claims Court Maximum in 2025. What Does it Mean for Access to Justice?

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Author by: Erin Jeon, University of Manitoba Law Student Manitoba is increasing its Small Claims Court maximum to $20,000, up from $15,000.[1] An amendment to the Court of King’s Bench Small Claims Practices Act will render the change effective on January 1, 2025. Small Claims Court in Manitoba operates as a part of the Court

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Functional Literacy and Court Forms: An Access to Justice Barrier for Self-Represented Litigants

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Authored by: Erin Jeon, University of Manitoba Law Student Self-represented litigants (SRLs) face numerous barriers within the justice system. One of the most significant barriers occurs long before an SRL’s case even approaches the courtroom: the filling of court forms. As fewer than 25% of Canadians are able to read legal documents or understand legal

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Online Dispute Resolution: Benefits, Drawbacks, and the Potential for Access to Justice

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Author by: Erin Jeon, University of Manitoba Law Student Technology is embedded in the legal profession. From doing research to filing documents to conducting dispute resolution, technology is being used in all areas of practice. Online dispute resolution (ODR) developed in the mid-1990s to assist in resolving e-commerce disputes; since then, ODR has become the

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Legal Aid Lockdown: The Consequences of Closing Legal Aid Services

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Authored by Mackenzie Coleman, Law Student, University of Alberta, Faculty of Law Legal aid programs are a significant component of access to justice. For many individuals, publicly funded legal services are crucial to support their right to liberty and security of person under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[1] Along with this, legal aid is

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“Cost of defending yourself” by David Dorson

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By: April Lount, University of Manitoba, Student at the Faculty of Law The recent Law 360 article entitled “Cost of defending yourself” by David Dorson  provides a sobering perspective of the cost relationship to quality criminal defence and the severe consequences when you are not able to meet those costs. Dorson is a pen name, providing

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Expanding the Mandatory Pro Bono Discourse

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By April Lount, University of Manitoba, Student at the Faculty of Law Pro bono stands as perhaps the single most revered practice within the legal sector, embodying a selfless dedication to justice and the public good. These principles not only align with the ideal model of advocacy, but also directly contribute to access to justice,

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Response to the Alberta Courts Indigenous Justice Strategy: We Still Have a Long Way to Go

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By: Nicholas Anderson, Student at the Faculty of Law, University of Alberta The beginnings of this article stem from the second floor of the Edmonton Law Courts, where there has been a semi-recent implementation of an Indigenous Court in Room 266. Here, Indigenous offenders can have their cases heard, while feeling a sense of Indigenous

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Statute as Shield: The Contradictory Nature of Limitation Periods in the Context of Reconciliation

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Written by Noah Lesiuk Following the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) in Guerin v The Queen, precedent has solidified that limitation periods apply to Indigenous claims against the Crown.[1] In fact, the operation of such a doctrine in the Indigenous context is not only immortalized in the jurisprudence, but expressly conveyed through statutory authority.

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