Ontario to Make the Courts Easier to Navigate for Families

Ontario is helping families by making it easier for them to navigate family courts and access the legal assistance they need.

Last year, Ontario and the Law Society of Upper Canada asked the Honourable Annemarie E. Bonkalo to lead a review to consider whether a broader range of service providers could deliver certain family legal services.

Ontario and the Law Society are now seeking public feedback on Justice Bonkalo’s recommendations. People can submit feedback online until May 15, 2017.  “As former Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, I am a strong advocate of court modernization.  I am pleased to present the results of this review to the Attorney General and the Law Society and to do my part in helping people access the legal services they need to resolve their family matters,” Justice Annemarie E. Bonkalo said of the report.

The province, together with the Law Society, plans to release an action plan by fall 2017 to address these recommendations.

In addition, Ontario has asked the federal government to support its plans to expand Unified Family Courts provincewide. Expanding these courts would streamline the family court process by ensuring Ontario families only have to go to one court to resolve their legal issues no matter where they live.  Read Justice Bonkalo’s report here.