About the Action Committee
Established by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin in 2007, the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters works towards improved access to justice for people in Canada.
The Action Committee brings people from all corners of Canada’s justice system together to propose and examine approaches on this critical issue. It adopted Canada’s Justice Development Goals to align the work of organizations across the country. The Action Committee coordinates national metrics on justice, tracks progress through an annual report, and connects people to share innovations throughout the year and at its annual Summit.
A Steering Committee of volunteers coordinate annual events and administer the Action Committee. Committees of Action Committee members plan regional and national activities to advance access to justice.
Action Committee Members
The Honourable Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner, Honourary Chair
Provincial / Territorial Collaboratives
Barb Turner, Alberta Representative
Diana Lowe, Alberta Representative
Patricia Hebert, Alberta Representative
Sara M. Winger, Alberta Representative
Chief Justic Leonard Marchand, British Columbia Representative
Paige Thombs, British Columbia Representative
Tina Parbhakar, British Columbia Representative
Natasha Brown, Manitoba Representative
Stacey Soldier, Manitoba Representative
Justice Danie Roy, New Brunswick Representative
Michelle Thompson, New Brunswick Representative
Christian Whalen, New Brunswick Representative
Robyn Davis, Newfoundland and Labrador Representative
Kevin O'Shea, Newfoundland and Labrador Representative
Keelen Simpson, Northwest Territories Representative
Charlene Moore, Nova Scotia Representative
Nalini Vaddapalli, Nunavut Representative
Joanne Smith, Nunavut Representative
Jess Reekie, Ontario Representative
Patti Latimer, Ontario Representative
Aneurin Thomas, Ontario Representative
Chief Justice James Gormley, Prince Edward Island Representative
Sophie MacDonald, Prince Edward Island Representative
Ellen Mullally, Prince Edward Island Representative
Sophie Vézina, Quebec Representative
Kevin Gravier, Quebec Representative
Brea Lowenberger, Saskatchewan Representative
Vacant, Yukon Representative
Justice Sector Institutions
Doug Mitchell, American College of Trial Lawyers
Vacant, Chamber of Notaries of Quebec
Doug Ferguson, Association for Canadian Clinical Legal Education
Camille Cameron, Canadian Council of Law Deans
Anne-Marie Santorineos, Pro Bono Organizations in Canada
Christine O’Doherty, Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice
Justice Kathleen Quigg, Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association
Jeff Surtees, Public Legal Education Associations Canada
Chief Justice Michael Tulloch, Canadian Judicial Council’s A2J Committee
Peter Kingsley, Association of Legal Aid Plans
Shalene Curtis-Micallef, Justice Canada
Catherine McKinnon, Justice Canada
Patricia Hebert, Canadian Bar Association
Vacant, P/T Deputy Ministers of Justice
Del W. Atwood, Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges
Gary Lacasse, ADR Institute of Canada
Adrian Di Giovanni, International Development Research Centre
Tracy Bock, Federation of Law Societies
Juge Martin Tétrault, Canadian Council of Chief Judges (provincial courts)
Trevor Farrow, Canadian Forum on Civil Justice
Josh Paterson, Association of Canadian Law Foundations
Vacant, Canadian Association of Law Libraries
Public / Equality Seeking Organizations
Cindy Blackstock, First Nations Caring Society
Janet Dench, Canadian Council of Refugees
Donna Walwyn, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
Vacant, Canada Race Relations Foundation
Melinda Morin & Victoria Pierre, Indigenous Bar Association
Guiding Principles
Put the Public First
Collaborate & Coordinate
Prevent & Educate
Simplify
Take Action
Focus on Outcomes
Steering Committee
Justice Andromache Karakatsanis, Chair
Mark Benton, Vice-Chair
Chief Justice Michael Tulloch
Doug Ferguson
Patricia Hébert
Catherine McKinnon
Christine O'Doherty
Tracy Bock
Peter Kingsley
Trevor Farrow
Anne-Marie Santorineos
Véronique Morissette (Executive Director)
Brea Lowenberger (Senior Advisor)
Program Funding
The Action Committee receives program funding from the Law Foundations of BC, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick. Operational support is provided by Justice Canada, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, CIAJ and CFCJ.
Operational Support
