Access to justice is a fundamental Canadian value and an integral part of a fair and just society based on the rule of law. The Government of Canada is committed to providing fair and equal access to justice and legal services for racialized communities, including racialized youth, across the country and addressing systemic racism and discrimination in all its forms and in all phases of the justice system.
Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced support to the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN) for the development of culturally relevant Public Legal Education Information (PLEI) for racialized youth in Ontario.
The OJEN offers a variety of services to advance access to justice for young people and to foster connections between the justice sector and communities. To help build legal education and awareness, OJEN will develop culturally relevant programs for Black and Indigenous youth living in urban areas in Ontario. Working collaboratively with community partners, legal volunteers and youth, OJEN will develop a series of PLEI workshops to inform racialized youth about their legal rights, how to access information and supports, and how to navigate the justice system.
Justice Canada is providing $498,570 over 4 years, since July 2022, through the Justice Partnership and Innovation Program, to support OJEN with this important initiative.
