The Legal Problems of Everyday Life - The Nature, Extent and Consequences of Justiciable Problems Experienced by Canadians

Appendix A: Questionnaire

Department of Justice
2006 Survey of Justiciable Problems in Civil Matters
FINAL Questionnaire

Introduction

Good afternoon/evening.

My name is and I am calling from the Environics Research Group. Today we are conducting a survey on behalf of the Government of Canada about various issues that affect people's lives.

This survey is being conducted with a randomly selected group of several thousand Canadians, aged 18 and over. All of the answers provided will remain completely confidential and anonymous. The purpose of this research is to better understand Canadians' need for different kinds of legal and other types of assistance, which will help in the development of new programs and services.

IF ASKED: The survey will take between 10 and 25 minutes, depending on your answers to some of the questions.

IF ASKED: I can give you a contact name at the Government of Canada at the end of the survey [PROVIDE UPFRONT IF RESPONDENT INSISTS]

IF ASKED: This survey is registered with the National Survey Registration System. The registration system has been created by the Canadian survey research industry to allow the public to verify that a survey is legitimate, get information about the survey industry or register a complaint. The registration systems toll-free telephone number is 1-800-554-9996.

A.May I confirm that you are over 18?

IF YES ASK TO SPEAK TO THAT PERSON

CONFIRM WHETHER RESPONDENT WOULD LIKE TO BE INTERVIEWED IN ENGLISH OR FRENCH

I. Problem Identification

I would like to begin by reading to you a list of the types of problems and disputes that people sometimes experience. In each case, I'd like to know whether you or your spouse or life partner (if you have one) has experienced this type of problem in the past three years; that is since March 2003. Problems that started before March 2003 should be mentioned so long as you were still dealing with them after that date.

We are interested in problems that you felt were serious and difficult to resolve. Please feel free not to answer any question you might not feel comfortable answering.

IF ASKED WHAT A SERIOUS PROBLEM IS, SAY: By "serious" we mean it was a large enough problem that you felt it could not be easily answered or solved, and that if you ignored it there would be negative consequences.

INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT INDICATES THEY DO NOT HAVE A PARTNER/HAVE NOT HAD ONE FOR THREE YEARS, DO NOT READ "OR YOUR PARTNER" IN THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

A. Consumer Problems

B. Employment Problems

C. Debt

D. Social Assistance/Welfare Benefits

E. Disability Assistance

F. Housing

G. Immigration

H. Discrimination

I. Treatment by Police

J. Family Problems

K. Other Family Problems

NOTE TO RH: THIS QUESTION IS NOT BEING READ - Q.29 IS INCORRECTLY REPEATED HERE

L. Wills and Incapacity

M. Personal Injury

N. Hospital Treatment or Release

O. Legal Action

P. Other Problems

IF NO PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN Q.1 - Q.45 SKIP TO Q.87

II. Assistance with Specific Problems

FOR RESPONDENTS WITH UP TO THREE PROBLEMS IN Q.1 TO Q.45 -- SELECT ALL PROBLEMS.

FOR RESPONDENTS WITH PROBLEMS IN MORE THAN THREE AREAS, RANDOMLY SELECT THREE PROBLEMS BUT DO NOTSELECT MORE THAN ONE PROBLEM FROM THE SAME AREA

ASK Q.47 to Q.65 FOR EACH OF THE THREE PROBLEMS SELECTED

I would now like to ask you about the kinds of assistance you or your partner may have sought and received in connection with [IF ONE PROBLEM: the problem/IF TWO PROBLEMS: two of the problems or disputes/IF THREE OR MORE PROBLEMS: three of the problems or disputes] you mentioned. [IF MORE THAN THREE PROBLEMS MENTIONED: We will just select three of the problems you mentioned at random.]

Let me ask you [IF MORE THAN ONE PROBLEM: first/second/third] about [PROBLEM ONE/TWO/THREE] . . .

REPEAT Q47-Q65 FOR SECOND/THIRD PROBLEM AS APPLICABLE