History

The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice was established as part of the recommendations of the 1996 Report of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Task Force on the Systems of Civil Justice.

In 1995 the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) formed the "Task Force on the Systems of Civil Justice" to "inquire into the state of the civil justice system on a national basis and to develop strategies and mechanisms to facilitate modernization of the justice system so that it is better able to meet the current and future needs of Canadians" (from the forward to the Task Force Report).

The Task Force concluded that the central issues affecting access to the civil justice system are delay, costs associated with proceeding in the civil courts and lack of understanding of the civil justice system.

The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice was established to help meet these challenges. Those involved in the CBA Task Force found that there were gaps in gathering and sharing information on civil justice issues in Canada.

The Task Force recommended the creation of an independent organization to encourage participation from all groups involved in civil justice reform and to facilitate the exchange of information and experience in civil justice reform.

The Forum was established pursuant to that recommendation through a joint initiative of the Canadian Bar Association External Link and the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice is a national organization, incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act in May 1998.

The Forum provides services in both of Canada's official languages. The Forum was established pursuant to recommendation 52 of the Systems of Civil Justice Task Force Report. See also CBA Resolution 97-15-M.

"It is an unfortunate fact that legal proceedings in the civil and criminal courts, at the trial and appellate levels, have become increasingly lengthy and protracted. We must accept and deal with this phenomenon to the extent that it simply reflects the increasing complexity of our modern law and modern society. But we should maintain a healthy skepticism of the need for longer and more protracted proceedings and constantly strive to contain and simplify the trial and appellate processes. The aim above all must be that the courts remain accessible to the ordinary Canadian. Lawyers should always recall that their duty to defend and maintain their client's interest must be balanced with their professional duty, as an officer of the court, to ensure that matters proceed as expeditiously as possible."

From Access to Justice, an address to the graduating class of the Faculty of Law, University of Windsor on June 8, 1988 by then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Right Honourable Brian Dickson, P.C. (Brian Dickson, "Access to Justice" (1989) 1 Windsor Rev. Legal & Social Issues 1).