By Ian Burns for Law360 Canada
The B.C. bar association has issued a call to action to the provincial government to tackle pressing challenges in the justice system, which it says will help improve the everyday lives of British Columbians.
The new Agenda for Justice 2025 from the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch (CBABC) outlines over 30 recommendations to the province to consider when dealing with the justice system, such as increasing legal aid funding, reducing costs by simplifying court systems and enhancing technological connectivity, and providing education on the roles and responsibilities of legal professionals and the rights of citizens.
CBABC president Lee Nevens said people in the province lean on the legal system during some of the most important and toughest moments of their lives, and challenges like community safety and discrimination deserve urgent action.
“The agenda calls for funding and modernization efforts that strengthen the public’s trust in the systems designed to help them resolve disputes and secure fair outcomes,” they said.
The bar association is also calling on the province to establish a Unified Family Court (UFC) to deal with all family law issues, as well as more funding for social programs that address the underlying issues that cause crime.
“Right now, in family law, sometimes people are in the provincial court, and sometimes in the Supreme Court, and they’re in front of judges who are, by necessity, generalists. So, a UFC would have judges who are focused on family law issues,” said Nevens. “The system now is complicated even for lawyers who practice in this area, and I can’t imagine how challenging it is for self-represented litigants.”
And Nevens said things like substance use disorder and unmet mental health challenges are “really foundational challenges” that are leading to a lot of the problems in the criminal justice system.
“And I think that’s the place where government needs to focus to try to address those challenges,” they said. “We need to have properly funded police services, but police are not the only tool in the toolbox for addressing social challenges — and they’re not necessarily the best tool for every circumstance.”
Nevens said the CBABC is going to reach out to as many people as it can on the agenda, such as media, stakeholders, members of the legislature and civil servants, to make sure its recommendations are heard.
“I think what the agenda comes down to is really what British Columbians need — a lot of us have really legitimate concerns about the economic stability and economic viability of our lifestyles, fears when we’re out on the streets and interacting with people, and concerns about discrimination in various aspects of my life and different identities,” they said. “And I think the government is trying to act on that, where we come in as having with that first talent for the frontline knowledge, the lawyers who are trying to help people deal with their legal problems.”
More information about the agenda for justice can be found here.