Justice in Official Languages - Newsletter
(No04 | February 2012)

Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund

Each issue of the Newsletter presents a number of projects funded by the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund. The projects presented in this issue are special because they were funded jointly with another departmental fund. Although the Support Fund is the main funding arm for projects targeting justice in official languages, other funds may also provide financial assistance in specific areas. Here are two examples:

French training in family mediation

The purpose of this initiative by the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario [Association of French-speaking Jurists of Ontario] is to fulfill a need for French training resources, tools and activities for family law mediators. The objective of this project is to develop French professional tools and resources in the area of family mediation for two groups: professionals who already provide family mediation services and wish to be trained to do so in French; and professionals who wish to receive family mediation training in French. This project receives funding from the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund and from the Supporting Families Experiencing Separation and Divorce Fund.

Nordique Action

This initiative by the Fédération franco-ténoise includes several activities, such as the development of French legal tools; promotion of access to justice in French in the territories; and implementation of the “Pacific Path” mediation and conflict resolution program in two Francophone schools in the territories. This last component of the project includes training educational and non-educational personnel, parents and children who wish to become mediators. In addition to engaging youth participation, this project aims to reduce violence, school dropout rates and juvenile delinquency. This project receives funding from the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund and from the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program.