Visiting Greater Sudbury last week, Attorney General and Minister of Francophone Affairs Caroline Mulroney announced a new initiative aimed at improving front-line services in French and enhancing access to justice in French.
In a news release, the province said it was partnering with the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice at Sudbury's courthouses “to identify more opportunities to deliver enhancements to Franco-Ontarians accessing court services and court proceedings heard in French.”
The collaboration with the judiciary, justice partners, stakeholders and the Attorney General's Access to Justice in French Advisory Committee will enhance access to justice by offering more French-language justice services and supports.
"Our government is committed to working with Ontario's Francophonie and its partners to advance the delivery of French-language services across our province," Mulroney is quoted as saying in the release. "To support the growth and development of Francophone communities, this initiative aligns with our ongoing commitment to protect and build on gains and progress that have been achieved by Franco-Ontarians."
Between 2015 and 2017, the ministry carried out a pilot project at the Ottawa courthouse to provide timely and seamless access to justice in French. The majority of the pilot project initiatives were made permanent.
"This plan builds on the important and successful work that was piloted and eventually implemented in Ottawa," Heather J. Smith, Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, is quoted as saying. "The Superior Court is pleased to partner with the Ontario government to ensure accessible and appropriate justice services for the Francophone community in Sudbury and the North."
"This project is another important step in implementing the Access to Justice in French report by providing timely and seamless French-language services in Sudbury," Lise Maisonneuve, Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, said in the release. "The Ontario Court of Justice is committed to continue to work collaboratively with the ministry and all courts to improve access to justice in French across the province by building on what was learned in Ottawa and now Sudbury."
More than of 620,000 Francophones live in Ontario, and Sudbury is a designated area under both the French Language Services Act and the Courts of Justice Act, meaning Francophones make up at least 10 per cent of the population.
Nadia Effendi, president of l'Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario (AJEFO), said the group welcomes the announcement.
“As reflected in the results of the project in Ottawa, we hope this initiative will boost the active offer of French services and advance access to justice in French,” Effendi is quoted as saying. “We will continue to support this project through the services delivered by the Ontario Legal Information Centre."
