Justice and Consumer Affairs

Task force on access to family justice (08/02/07)

NB 161

Feb. 7, 2008

FREDERICTON (CNB) - Speeding up access to the legal system for families facing divorce and child support issues is the goal of a newly appointed task force, Justice and Consumer Affairs Minister T. J. Burke announced today.

"We are going to deal with the backlogs in the family court system in a number of ways," Burke said. "We will examine and address the issues that delay access for families dealing with a breakdown, and prevents them from moving forward in a strong and self-sufficient way."

The seven-member task force will review the family court system and make recommendations on measures that will lead to:

• More timely access to justice in resolving family law disputes;
• Expanded use of alternatives to family courts to resolve family law issues; and
• Increased access to legal information and legal assistance in family law matters.

Members of the task force are: Justice Raymond Guerette, chair, of Campbellton; Mary-Eileen Flanagan, Saint John; Brenda Noble Q.C, Saint John; Sheila Cameron, Moncton; Michelle Boudreau-Dumas, Campbellton; Jennifer Donovan, Fredericton; and David Lutz, Hampton.

Two additional government initiatives that will enhance support to families dealing with the legal system will be announced soon by the minister. A report on Legal Aid will be released Feb. 8 at the mid-winter meetings of the Canadian Bar Association (New Brunswick) in Saint John; and new child/family support order enforcement legislation will come into effect Feb. 11.

08/02/07

MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Kilfoil, communications, Justice and Consumer Affairs, 506-453-6543 or 470-3178 (cell).

08/02/07