Civil Procedure & Dispute Resolution – Page 3

Justice at Tribunals: At the Government’s Whim

April 7, 2022November 9, 2023 Noel Semple

Slaw.ca Access to Justice Column, April 7, 2022

Found online at: https://www.slaw.ca/2022/04/07/justice-in-tribunals-at-the-governments-whim/

Suppose that “JM” is a Canadian person, who believes that their legal rights have been infringed. The problem might have arisen at work, at home, with a corporation, or with some part of the government. JM has tried to resolve the matter privately with the other side, but got nowhere. Next, JM did some online research and perhaps spoke to a lawyer. It turns out there is a public body that’s supposed to make decisions, and uphold rights, in disputes like JM’s.

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Justice in Your Neighbourhood?

December 22, 2021November 9, 2023 Noel Semple

Slaw.ca Access to Justice Column, December 22, 2021

Found online at: http://www.slaw.ca/2021/12/22/justice-in-your-neighbourhood/

I live in Etobicoke, Toronto’s western suburb. We used to have our own courts, right here in the west end. There were family and criminal courts at 40 East Mall, and a Landlord Tenant Board outpost on Dundas Street West. Just over the Humber River, in the original City of Toronto, there was a Small Claims Court on Keele Street (pictured above). People asserting civil rights, or facing criminal charges, could visit a courthouse in their own community.

Nowadays, there isn’t a single physical court or tribunal of any kind in Etobicoke.

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Standards, Rules, and Law’s Quest for Certainty

June 11, 2021November 9, 2023 Noel Semple

Slaw.ca Access to Justice Column, June 11, 2021

Found online at: http://www.slaw.ca/2021/06/11/standards-rules-and-laws-quest-for-certainty/

Law should be drafted in a way that prevents litigation. Statutes, regulations, and precedents should ideally let people predict the decisions that legal authorities would make, if presented with certain facts. If the “shadow of the law” is sharp and clear, then people can avoid and resolve disputes instead of spending time and money litigating over them.

Often, however, it is difficult to create law that both keeps people out of court, and ensures that the resolutions they reach out of court are fair and just.

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The Accountability Gap and The Struggles of Our Civil Justice System

April 22, 2021November 9, 2023 Noel Semple

Slaw.ca Legal Ethics Column, April 22, 2021

Found online at: https://www.slaw.ca/2021/04/22/the-accountability-gap-and-the-struggles-of-our-civil-justice-system/

Conflict management systems are increasingly common within large corporations and other organizations. Workplace interpersonal disputes and bad behaviour are inevitable, but also manageable. Interests can be reconciled, rights can be upheld, and peace can be restored. A conflict management system is built to do exactly that.

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Justice Delayed and Denied in Ontario’s Tribunals

February 16, 2021November 9, 2023 Noel Semple

Slaw.ca Access to Justice Column, February 16, 2021

Found online at: https://www.slaw.ca/2021/02/16/justice-delayed-and-denied-in-ontarios-tribunals/

Widespread distrust of government helped Donald Trump bring the United States to its knees. Only 17% of Americans trusted the federal government to do the right thing most of the time in 2019, down from over 70% in the 1960s. People who lack any confidence in government tend to be receptive to anti-government populist messages.

The best way to preserve public trust in government is to ensure, as much as possible, that government acts in a trustworthy way. What does this have to do with Ontario’s administrative tribunals?

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