Access to justice- which includes access to the knowledge, resources and services that allow people to deal effectively with their legal matters- is key to increasing Canadians' confidence in their justice system. By improving the ability of organizations to offer legal services in French and English across the country, the Government of Canada is supporting official language minority communities in resolving legal problems.
Today, the Honourable Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier, on behalf of the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced funding of $68,589 over a year (2024-2025) through the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund to support Collège La Cité in the delivery of services to French-speaking Ontarians.
The funding announced today supports a "Feasibility study to address the shortage of law clerks from francophone minority communities". These funds will help Collège La Cité to assess how the college's existing French Law Clerk program can be used to fill labour shortages in Ontario and other provinces with francophone minority communities. These funds will also allow Collège La Cité to assess how training can be tailored and expanded to meet the needs of provincial legal systems across Canada. Studying the current state of the administration of justice will help to determine concrete measures to address this shortage of francophone law clerks, improve services to French-speaking citizens and increase access to justice in both Official Languages for all Canadians.
Offering a total of 180 postsecondary and study programs, Collège La Cité is the largest French-language college of applied arts and technology in Ontario. La Cité has offered a 2-year law clerk program since 1990. This French Law Clerk program is currently the only one offered in the province of Ontario. The training prepares graduates for the preparation of legal documents, legal research, accounting support for a law firm, drafting family law documents and pleadings. Paralegals, another program offered by La Cité, can also provide an affordable option for people in need of legal services or representation.
