Opinion
It’s time Canada makes access to justice a reality for all
By Adrian Di Giovanni, Lotta Teale, Vivek Maru Jun 29, 2016
The demand is apparent, whether in Canada or abroad, and now there’s hope it will gain the attention it deserves.
The Supreme Court of Canada. The provision of access to justice for all is included in the UN's 17 new Sustainable Development Goals. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
When a child is denied access to school, or an ailing person is shut out of a hospital, the media are quick to expose the injustice. Denial of health care or an education is unthinkable for most Canadians, yet access to justice, particularly for non-criminal issues, is out of reach for millions in this country, and for billions of people worldwide. Despite the vital need of legal assistance to protect human rights, its absence is rarely remarked upon, its inaccessibility considered merely regrettable.
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