Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility

Canadian Bar Association – BC Branch

CBA British Columbia – Pronouns in Court Toolkit (cbabc.org)

Resources for use of pronouns and forms of address in BC court proceedings. Resources include definitions, advice, and scripts.

Canadian Bar Association  – Equality Subcommittee, the Federal Court Bench and Bar Liaison Committee, and the Immigration Law Section

March 20, 2023 letter – Improving inclusivity in the Canadian Justice System

Describes the harm of mispronouncing names in court and suggests best practices to increase the sense of inclusion for racialized individuals appearing before the court.

Court of Appeal of Ontario

Statement from the Chief Justice of Ontario and the Associate Chief Justice of Ontario Regarding Submissions from Counsel – Court of Appeal for Ontario (ontariocourts.ca)

Practice Directions, Rules and Forms – Court of Appeal for Ontario (ontariocourts.ca)

The May 2023 counsel slip advises that parties may include their prefix, pronouns, phonetic name pronunciation, and audio pronunciation (e.g., a NameBadge from name-coach.com).

Law Society of British Columbia

Gender Diverse Legal Writing Guide

Explains how to respect gender diversity and avoid assumptions about gender in legal writing

Barreau du Québec

Les droits des personnes LGBT en contexte de prestation de services juridiques : CE QU’IL FAUT SAVOIR

Guide that provides lawyers with an overview of the applicable legal and regulatory framework and examples of inclusive practices to ensure respect for the dignity and equality rights of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans) people.

Government of Canada

ATSSC Accessibility Plan

• Social Security Tribunal of Canada Alternative arrangements policy
• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Accessibility Plan 2023-2025
• Commission de l’immigration et du statut de réfugié du Canada / Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Plan d’accessibilité de la CISR 2023 à 2025

Summarizes Administrative Tribunals Support Service (ATSSC) of Canada strategy for identifying, eliminating, and preventing accessibility-related barriers at the ATSSC.

Provides examples of accessibility policies and plans from the several federal tribunals

Tribunals Ontario

2020-2023 Tribunals Ontario Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

Describes policies and procedures for accessibility, focused on standards of: customer service; information and communications; employment, diversity, and inclusion; and accessibility of Tribunals Ontario facilities and public hearing spaces; in addition to general requirements regarding procurement and training.

Tribunal Administratif du Québec

Plan d’action à l’égard des personnes handicapées et bilan 2022-2023

Report detailing the targets set by the TAQ in terms of making their procedures and documents accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Tribunal Administratif du Québec

Accessibilité au Tribunal

Services provided by the TAQ in terms of accessibility to ensure that people can exercise their rights.

Commission des droits de la personnes et des droits de jeunesse

Accessibilité | CDPDJ

Information on potential adaptations by the tribunal in order to present web content that is accessible to all people, regardless of their limitations. In particular, visual, hearing, intellectual or other limitations and reading difficulties whether or not related to learning French or English.

Tribunal administratif du logement du Québec

Recours à nos services judiciaires

The tribunal provides free sign language interpreters for people who are hard of hearing

Canadian Human Rights Commission

Strengthening the Commission’s handling of Race-based Cases 

Consultant review of CHRC’s handling of race-based cases and recommendations to strengthen the Commission and its processes

Barreau du Québec

Outil d’autoévaluation – Meilleures pratiques pour promouvoir la diversité ethnoculturelle et l’inclusion

Self-assessment tool that is a compendium of best practices in recruitment, retention and advancement to promote ethnocultural diversity.

Commission d’enquête sur le processus de nomination des juges de la Cour du Québec, des cours municipales et des membres du Tribunal administratif du Québec

Rapport 2011, Volet II, Partie 2 chapitre 1.5: Une magistrature plus diversifiée

Recommendation that measures be taken to improve diversity in the nomination of judges, given the lack of representation of the wider population among judges.

Golden Eagle Rising Society

Trauma-Informed Legal Practice Toolkit

This toolkit provides a trauma-informed approach to law, guided by the principle of doing no harm. This includes a chapter on trauma-informed practice in the courtroom.

A donation to Golden Eagle Rising Society in exchange for reviewing the toolkit’s contents is recommended.

BC Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal

Navigator

Those that self-identify as Indigenous can work a WCAT team member called a Navigator. These staff members have an in-depth knowledge of processing of appeals. They also have training from Indigenous Peoples to deepen their understanding of cultural differences to develop relationships and provide assistance.

British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal

Expanding Our Vision: Cultural Equality & Indigenous Peoples Human Rights

Discusses steps taken to remove barriers to access the BCHRT and to make structural change to incorporate Indigenous definitions of human rights according to Indigenous laws. An Indigenous Navigator helps to guide and support Indigenous people through the Tribunal process.

BC Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal

Pathway to Reconciliation

The Tribunal identified four areas where steps can be taken to foster reconciliation. One of these is tribunal processes.

National Association of Friendship Centres

Guide for Lawyers working with Indigenous Peoples (2018)

Guide for Lawyers working with Indigenous Peoples (1st Supplement)

A starting resource to help lawyers and others in the justice system  learn about Indigenous cultures and understand the interplay between Indigenous legal orders and the Canadian legal system. Includes information regarding Protocols and land acknowledgment.

Royal Roads Writing Guide

References guide

Guide for writing citations and references to Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

Commission québécoise des libérations conditionnelles

Rapport annuel de gestion 2022-2023

Announcement and description of the First Nations and Inuit Strategy 2022-2026, which aims to adapt hearing processes to the specific needs of First Nations and Inuit offenders.

Tribunal sur les revendications particulières

Rapport Annuel 2021-2022 | Tribunal des revendications particulieres (sct-trp.ca)

The tribunal’s annual report details the ways in which it takes into consideration cultural diversity in its proceedings. These include hearings based on oral histories, with testimonies from Elders, site visits, opening and closing ceremonies, and prayers.