Access to justice

30 Apr 2024

Bill aims to curb delays but stakeholders call for more resources

A new bill that seeks to curb delays in the justice system and rein in stays of proceedings will be conferring new powers to the justices of the peace by allowing them to oversee criminal court appearances and bail hearings, a development that has received lukewarm praise by Quebec’s main legal actors who were longing… Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Barreau du Quebec, Court of Quebec, Judiciary, Latest, Quebec

Tags: access to justice, judiciary, legislation
16 Mar 2023

Quebec legal world divided over notaries gaining access to the bench

The Quebec government, after scant debate and without the input or testimony of several major legal actors, has forged ahead in spite of forceful opposition by lawyers’ organizations with a controversial and divisive bill that will allow notaries to be appointed to the bench of provincial courts. Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Barreau du Quebec, Judiciary, Legal business, Quebec

Tags: Bill 8, Conseil de la Magistrature, notaries, Quebec judicial council
4 Jan 2023

Quebec justice system in the midst of ‘collapsing, say leading legal actors

The Quebec justice system is in the midst of “collapsing,” sagging under the weight of underfinancing and bedevilled by a “catastrophic” shortage of court personnel, prompting leading legal actors to describe the situation as “embarrassing” and even more alarmingly, kindling a public lack of confidence in the province’s justice system. Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Barreau du Quebec, Quebec

Tags: Quebec justice system
3 Aug 2022

Former Quebec Superior Court Chief Justice reflects on challenges posed by pandemic and lack of resources

After seven years at the helm of Quebec Superior Court, the last two particularly challenging and exhausting, Justice Jacques Fournier has stepped aside Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Covid-19, Judiciary, Legal business, Quebec, Quebec Superior Court

Tags: judiciary, Justice Jacques Fournier, Quebec Superior Court
1 Nov 2021

Report calls for paradigm shift to Quebec’s legal aid system

An independent panel of experts is recommending sweeping reforms to Quebec’s administration of the legal aid system to simplify the process to seek legal aid and alleviate the administrative encumbrances faced by private sector lawyers who take on legal aid mandates. Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Public law, Quebec

Tags: legal aid, legal aid fees
11 Jun 2020

Academics studying effects of Covid-19 pandemic on law

Quebec law faculties are ramping up research efforts to assess the impact pandemics may have on law and the practice of law. Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Covid-19, Quebec

Tags: Covid-19, pandemics
2 Dec 2019

Racial profiling cases winding its way through Quebec courts

A man issued a ticket for accusing a police officer of being a racist was acquitted, the latest in a series of cases dealing with racial profiling that wound its way through Quebec courts. Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Class actions, Public law, Quebec, Rulings

Tags: racial profiling
26 Jun 2018

Quebec ombudsman urges province to provide healthcare to Canadian children of parents with precarious immigration status

Nine months ago Amnesty International and Doctors of the World launched a joint petition to request health coverage for children born in Quebec whose parents are beset by a precarious immigration status. The petition obviously went unheeded. Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Public law, Quebec

Tags: Protecteur du Citoyen, provincial healthcare, Quebec ombudsman
5 Jun 2018

Legal aid eligibility thresholds increased but lawyers still shunning cases

The Quebec government increased legal aid eligibility thresholds by 6.67 per cent, but that’s not good enough, asserts to the Quebec Bar. Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Barreau du Quebec, Quebec

Tags: legal aid
2 Jan 2018

Quebec Bar and Ombudsman want to make it easier for alleged victims of sexual assault

The Quebec Bar and the Quebec Ombudsman wants to make it easier for alleged victims of sexual assault to gain access to the legal system and are calling on the provincial government to follow in the footsteps of the overwhelming majority of Canadian provinces and eliminate the prescription period for civil actions in cases of… Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Barreau du Quebec, Quebec

Tags: sexual assault
12 Oct 2017

Free legal advice provided this weekend by Young Bar of Montreal

The Young Bar of Montreal will provide free legal advice by telephone this weekend. Volunteer lawyers and notaries will be available to answer questions on a wide range of subjects, from consumer to family law to labour to the management of estates. People can call the hotline at 1 844-779-6232 on Saturday, October 14th and… Continue reading

Categories: Access to justice, Barreau du Quebec, Quebec

Tags: Young Bar of Montreal