Strengthening support for access to justice services in both official languages in Ontario
News release
November 15, 2024—Ottawa, Ontario—Department of Justice Canada
Access to justice- which includes access to the knowledge, resources and services that allow people to deal effectively with their legal matters- is key to increasing Canadians’ confidence in their justice system. By improving the ability of organizations to offer legal services in French and English across the country, the Government of Canada is supporting official language minority communities in resolving legal problems.
Today, the Honourable Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier, on behalf of the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced funding of $68,589 over a year (2024-2025) through the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund to support Collège La Cité in the delivery of services to French-speaking Ontarians.
The funding announced today supports a “Feasibility study to address the shortage of law clerks from francophone minority communities”. These funds will help Collège La Cité to assess how the college’s existing French Law Clerk program can be used to fill labour shortages in Ontario and other provinces with francophone minority communities. These funds will also allow Collège La Cité to assess how training can be tailored and expanded to meet the needs of provincial legal systems across Canada. Studying the current state of the administration of justice will help to determine concrete measures to address this shortage of francophone law clerks, improve services to French-speaking citizens and increase access to justice in both Official Languages for all Canadians.
Offering a total of 180 postsecondary and study programs, Collège La Cité is the largest French-language college of applied arts and technology in Ontario. La Cité has offered a 2-year law clerk program since 1990. The training prepares graduates for the preparation of legal documents, legal research, accounting support for a law firm, drafting family law documents and pleadings. Paralegals, another program offered by La Cité, can also provide an affordable option for people in need of legal services or representation.
Quotes
“Our government is working to improve access to justice in both official languages across the country, so that Canadians can access the justice system in either language. Thanks to partners like Collège La Cité and their innovative ideas, we are making important progress. The funding we announced today will advance efforts to offer affordable legal services to official language minority communities across Ontario and Canada.”
The Honourable Arif Virani, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
“Funding to Collège La Cité will go toward a one-year project to study the shortage of law clerks in francophone minority communities. Advancing knowledge in this area will help to ensure that the needs of Canada’s official language minority communities are met.”
The Honourable Mona Fortier, M.P.
Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier, Ontario
“Collège La Cité wholeheartedly welcomes the financial support of the Department of Justice Canada. It will enable the Collège to conduct a study aimed at better identifying the various needs and at developing a broader picture of the Francophone resources that are essential to our justice system, particularly law clerks. We believe that expanding the delivery of this program could help increase the availability of French-language services in French-language minority regions and provinces. If the results of this study prove conclusive, the Collège looks forward to working with its college partners in other provinces and territories to provide Francophones, wherever they may be, with quality legal services in their own language.”
Lynn Casimiro
President and CEO, Collège La Cité
Quick facts
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The Department of Justice Canada’s Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund enables not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and provincial and territorial partners to meet the needs of English- and French-speaking official language minority communities across Canada.
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Activities and projects undertaken under the fund reflect the Government of Canada’s commitment to promoting equal status and use of English and French by enhancing the vitality of English and French minority communities, supporting their development, considering their uniqueness, diversity and historical and cultural contributions to Canadian society, and fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French.
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The Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund is part of the Action Plan for Official Languages of Canada.
Associated links
Contacts
For more information, the media may contact:
Chantalle Aubertin
Deputy Director, Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
613-992-6568
chantalle.aubertin@justice.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207
media@justice.gc.ca
Lysiane Daval
Communications and Public Relations Advisor
Collège La Cité
613-227-3532
ldaval@lacitec.on.ca
www.collegelacite.ca
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