Discover the impact of the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) through the experience of the Ecuadorian delegation at CIAJ's 2024 Symposium on Indigenous Justice System. Hosted by Christine O'Doherty, the Honourable Milton Enrique Velasquez Diaz, Justice of the National Court of Justice of Ecuador, explores how TAP facilitates exchanges between judicial experts and justice system actors, while supporting global reform efforts. This dialogue highlights lessons learned from the Canadian system on indigenous justice issues, and their relevance in an international context.

ABOUT THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (TAP):

Global Affairs Canada’s Technical Assistance Partnership Project (TAP), is designed to deploy Canadian experts from a range of disciplines to provide technical assistance to developing countries. The Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs (FJA) is one of the Canadian government agencies with an international development project under TAP. Under TAP, FJA engages with up to three countries per year for a one-year program of capacity building for judicial institutions. This mechanism allows Canada to use the experience in our judicial system to respond to requests for technical assistance made through Canadian missions abroad. Technical assistance is provided in response to needs expressed by partner countries, but in alignment with Canada’s international development priorities, including the strengthening of gender equality and the protection of human rights.

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In this engaging discussion, host David Lazzam welcomes Justice Richard Schneider and mental health advocate Noah Irvine to explore the intersection of addiction, mental health, and the law. Justice Schneider reflects on his extensive experience with mental health courts and the criminal justice system, while Noah shares a powerful perspective as a national advocate for systemic change. Drawing from personal tragedy and resilience, Noah speaks with authority and compassion, having lost both parents to suicide and addiction by the age of 15. Together, they tackle pressing issues such as deinstitutionalization, the role of the Criminal Code in mental health cases, and the impact on families. Their dialogue highlights both challenges and progress, envisioning a more inclusive future for mental health and addiction services in Canada.

To delve deeper into these vital topics, don’t miss the upcoming CIAJ conference on Addiction, Mental Health, and the Law, happening February 3-5, 2025, in Toronto.

Guests

• Noah Irvine, Mental Health Advocate
• The Honourable Justice Richard D. Schneider, Ontario Court of Justice, past Chair of the Ontario Review Board

Host

• David Lazzam, Articling Student, CIAJ

In this episode, David Lazzam hosts a compelling discussion with Vincent Ramsay, a retired family law attorney, and Nicholas Bala, a professor specializing in family and children’s law. Together, they delve into the history of Canada’s adversarial family law system and its profound impacts on families and children. Their engaging dialogue highlights the contrasting roles of “peacemaker” and “hired gun” lawyers, while offering educational and policy reform suggestions to promote a more collaborative, child-focused approach to family law. The episode also provides concrete advice for practitioners and policymakers aiming to reshape the family justice landscape.

RELATED DOCUMENTATION

Article: Ending the Harm to Parents and Children from Ontario’s Family Justice System by Transforming Family Law Culture: Reflections of a Family Law Lawyer - Vincent Ramsay (2024 CanLIIDocs 2300, 2024-07-01)

Article: Ethical Duties of Lawyers for Parents Regarding Children of Clients: Being a Child-Focused Family Lawyer - Nicholas Bala, Patricia Hebert & Rachel Birnbaum (The Canadian Bar Review, 2027)

Dans cet épisode, Qurat-ul Ain, étudiante, invite le professeur Alexandre Lillo, enseignant en droit à l'UQAM, à explorer un sujet novateur : le lien entre la pédagogie alternative et l'accès à la justice. Ensemble, ils plongent au cœur des méthodes d'apprentissage non traditionnelles, comme l'apprentissage par le jeu, et leur impact sur la formation des futurs juristes. Le professeur Lillo partage ses techniques pédagogiques audacieuses et innovantes. Une discussion inspirante sur la façon dont l'enseignement peut transformer le droit et ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives.

Invité

• Dr. Alexandre Lillo, professeur, Département des sciences juridiques, Université du Québec à Montréal

Dr. Alexandre Lillo est professeur au département des sciences juridiques à l’Université du Québec à Montréal où il enseigne notamment le Droit de l’environnement et le Droit international de l’environnement. Il est titulaire d’un doctorat en droit de l’Université Montpellier et de l’Université d’Ottawa, et a occupé le poste de chercheur postdoctoral au sein du Centre de droit public de cette dernière. Professeur Lillo est l’auteur de plusieurs publications couvrant des sujets variés tels que le droit de l'eau, la gouvernance environnementale, le droit des jeux vidéo et l'apprentissage par le jeu.

Animatrice

• Qurat-ul Ain, étudiante, Université de Montréal; ancienne membre, comité étudiant de l'ICAJ

Qurat-ul Ain est ancienne membre du comité étudiant de l’ICAJ. Elle poursuit un JD à l’UdeM depuis l'automne 2024, après avoir complété un baccalauréat en droit à l'UQÀM. Qurat s’intéresse aux questions de pédagogie juridique et aux expériences des étudiant.e.s issu.e.s des groupes méritant l’équité dans un programme de droit. Ayant travaillé dans le milieu communautaire et auprès de personnes en situation de vulnérabilité, elle s’intéresse également aux différentes formes que peut prendre l’accès à la justice.

In this episode, host Christine O’Doherty is joined by special guests Tina Parbhakar, Amy Schwab, and Jane Morley, K.C., to explore the Transform the Family Justice System Collaborative, an innovative initiative in British Columbia, launched in 2022. As key contributors to this groundbreaking user-centred initiative, the guests share their insights on efforts to redesign the family justice system. Together, they discuss strategies for enhancing child and youth participation, fostering cross-sector collaboration, using developmental and transformational evolution approaches and developing creative solutions for families. Their conversation offers a deep dive into the ongoing collective impact work to make family justice more accessible, inclusive, and responsive. 

RELATED DOCUMENTATION

National Justice Education Society website (that is being updated for re-launch in early 2025): https://familieschange.ca/

Visit transformfamilyjusticebc.ca. Any feedback is welcome, which can be sent to [email protected]

2024 Annual Conference on “Families and the Law”:

• Webpage: https://ciaj-icaj.ca/en/upcoming-programs/2024-annual-conference/
• Program: https://ciaj-icaj.ca/wp-content/uploads/events/2022/05/brochure_2024-annual-conference_en.pdf
• Registration form: https://www.imakeanonlinedonation.org/ciaj-icaj/P333/

David Lazzam, CIAJ's articling student, welcomes back Diana Lowe and Justice Rod Jerke to delve into the power of storytelling in driving systemic change within family law systems. Together, they discuss how narratives can serve as catalysts for transformation while revisiting the progress and new direction of the Reforming the Family Justice System (RFJS) initiative.

RELATED DOCUMENTATION

Book: "The Power of Story: On Truth, the Trickster, and New Fictions for a New Era" by Harold R. Johnson

Video: During the Grande Prairie “Family Well-Being” Symposium held in February 2024, a mock hearing was recorded, which demonstrates the underlying approach in the RFJS, explains why this pilot is needed and highlights the community readiness that underpins this new approach to family practice. We encourage you to watch the edited (33 min) recording of that mock hearing: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/8p16z70nc1egddmatr6md/AOfB9jxcmOMHE13PtF7DZTQ?e=2&preview=RFJS_Courtroom+Scene_V3.mp4&rlkey=y6trgu433dhe8vnur9pk14rk2&st=8egc5yof&dl=0 Video: This video is based on the same facts, but demonstrates how applications are likely to proceed once the Notice to the Profession & Public is in effect, if indeed an application is even needed. https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/rD5deJJxKrHJb928oTDotDoYEaHITTrQPHbc91ioVS2OoDWTF1b7IE538wECQ2jk.L1udnl_8tfffFiis Passcode: p.AsXM=0 Video: Justice Rod Jerke and Diana Lowe, KC were invited to speak to the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary on October 12, 2023 and a video of that presentation is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ5AfWBYrhU

2024 Annual Conference on “Families and the Law”:

• Webpage: https://ciaj-icaj.ca/en/upcoming-programs/2024-annual-conference/
• Program: https://ciaj-icaj.ca/wp-content/uploads/events/2022/05/brochure_2024-annual-conference_en.pdf
• Registration form: https://www.imakeanonlinedonation.org/ciaj-icaj/P333/

Podcasts: Three-part series on “Family Law Reform”:

• Episode #48: Family Law Reform Part I: The Right to a Good Life – With guest Diana Lowe, K.C. (Justice System Consulting at Re-imagining Justice and Co-Lead of the RFJS)
• Episode #49: Family Law Reform Part II: Brain Science, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Resilience – With guests Nicole Sherren, PhD (Principal Consultant & Founder, R2P Solutions) and Diana Lowe, K.C. (Justice System Consulting at Re-imagining Justice and Co-Lead of the RFJS)
• Episode #50: Family Law Reform Part III: It’s All About the Children – With guests The Honourable Justice Rodney A. Jerke (Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta) and Diana Lowe, K.C. (Justice System Consulting at Re-imagining Justice and Co-Lead of the RFJS)

Dans cet épisode, Me Caroline Bourbonnais reçoit Carolle Tremblay, avocate accréditée en droit collaboratif familial, et l'honorable J. Sébastien Vaillancourt, juge coordonnateur de la gestion familiale au district de Montréal à la Cour supérieure du Québec. Ensemble, ils discutent du droit collaboratif, une approche innovante dans le domaine du droit familial. Carolle Tremblay partage son point de vue en tant qu'avocate sur cette méthode qui favorise la résolution amiable, tandis que le juge Vaillancourt offre une perspective judiciaire, expliquant pourquoi cette approche est une option très intéressante pour les personnes en situation de conflit familial.

Ressources

• https://droitcollaboratifquebec.ca/
• Conférence annuelle 2024 de l'ICAJ sur Les familles et le droit - programme et inscriptions: https://ciaj-icaj.ca/fr/programmes-a-venir/conference-annuelle-2024/

Stephen Bindman, Visiting Professor and Executive in Residence at the uOttawa Faculty of Law, welcomes Professor Kent Roach, one of Canada's most prolific scholars and writers in the area of criminal law and wrongful convictions. In this episode, they discuss Professor Roach's book "Wrongfully Convicted," exploring how he became involved in studying wrongful convictions and why this work is so important.

Book: Wrongfully Convicted (Updated and Expanded Edition) Guilty Pleas, Imagined Crimes, and What Canada Must Do to Safeguard Justice By Kent Roach

Shayla Praud (Eagle Clan from the Nisga’a Nation), Dominga Robinson (Nakota Jamaican l Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation) and Justin Thompson (Member of Nipissing First Nation), students at the time of recording earlier this year, share their views on Indigenous self-governance. Together, they discuss how Indigenous legal systems and practices contribute to reconciliation efforts between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and the responsibilities of the Canadian government and legal community in supporting these efforts; alternatives to courts, in the context where not all Nations or communities may want to or be able to take on the challenge of implementing their own courts; and the example of the community Nipissing FN, which became the first community to enact a Constitution taking power away from the Indian Act as a key governing document.

From November 4 to 6, 2024, CIAJ will be holding its second Symposium on Indigenous Justice (November 4-6, 2024 I In person in Calgary, AB – and online) Indigenous Justice System: A Knowledge Sharing Symposium - Join the discussion: https://ciaj-icaj.ca/en/upcoming-programs/symposium-on-indigenous-justice-systems/ 

In this episode, Nathan Afilalo, CIAJ's former Legal Affairs Manager at the time, welcomes two guests to discuss engaging with Indigenous legal orders in Canada from two perspectives: the academic side with Associate Professor Hadley Friedland and the institutional side with Crown Counsel Sarah Arngna'naaq. These two guests present their work and active projects.

Guests

• Sarah Arngna'naaq, Crown Counsel, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Nunavut Regional Office (Iqaluit)

• Dr. Hadley Friedland, Associate Professor; Academic Director, Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta

Host

• Nathan Afilalo, Lawyer, Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) / Cree Nation Government; Former Legal Affairs Manager, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice

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2024 Indigenous Justice System – A Knowledge Sharing Symposium (November 4-6, 2024 I In person in Calgary, AB - and online): https://ciaj-icaj.ca/en/upcoming-programs/symposium-on-indigenous-justice-systems/