The Department of Justice is proposing an Open Justice commitment be included in Canada’s 2020-2022 National Action Plan on Open Government.
Access to justice and open government are mutually supportive. Access to justice is a fundamental value in Canada, critical to maintaining and strengthening the rule of law, confidence in the justice system and democracy. However, accessing justice, particularly for civil and family matters, can be difficult for a host of reasons. Many Canadians do not understand the Canadian justice system or know how to find information and services that will help them with their legal needs. This is because they are not affordable, easy to find, timely or communicated in a way that responds to the needs of Canadians.
The Open Government Partnership Global Summit co-hosted by the Government of Canada in May 2019 and the UN High Level Political Forum provided valuable insight into the opportunities of an Open Justice commitment for Canada and the ways one could be used to support a people-centered approach to justice and advance the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This discussion paper provides an overview of key issues and background information informing this proposal.