Minister of Justice highlights significant support for access to justice and public legal

April 17, 2019 - Montréal, Quebec - Department of Justice Canada

Canadians expect to live in a society where the justice system is fair and impartial and respects the needs of victims. They also expect to have access to justice without encountering any barriers.

Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced funding of $2.1M to Éducaloi for a number of projects to increase access to justice through skills development and access to understandable information for Quebec's citizenry, including official language minority communities and victims of crime. This contribution represents a number of funding programs within the Department of Justice Canada. It will provide the tools needed to manage situations through the provision of accessible and clear communication of the law for citizens and legal, educational and community based stakeholders.

A contribution of $985,500 from the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund will enable Éducaloi to continue to provide legal information to official language minority communities in Quebec, in part through educational tools for teachers, training on the law for community organizations, and tools for stakeholders in the legal community, such as courts, to help them better serve English‑speaking citizens.

A contribution of $900,490 from Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) will enable Éducaloi to increase the public's access to justice, including Quebec's official language minority communities, through information, as well as educational and outreach activities about citizens' rights and obligations. By developing tools containing quality legal information in plain language that is accessible in English and French, Éducaloi is helping citizens foster their understanding of the legal system.

Through a contribution of $224,200 from the Victims Fund, Éducaloi will help increase the capacity of sexual assault workers and those in the criminal justice system so they can respond to the particular needs of sexual assault victims by providing them with tools and training adapted to their needs, in support of vulnerable populations. Through outreach to the various sexual assault stakeholders, Éducaloi will provide the means to better guide efforts to support victims as they participate in the justice system and to foster trust in the system and its professionals.

Founded in 2000, Éducaloi creates legal information in plain language for Quebec citizens. Its mission is to inform the citizens of Quebec on the law, their rights and their obligations. Éducaloi has developed recognized expertise in the provision of reliable, simplified language adapted to different audiences to increase their access to justice.

To help Canadians access the legal education and information they need, the 2019 Budget proposes to provide the Department of Justice Canada with an additional $8.1 million over five years beginning in 2019‑2020.