Deepa Mattoo
Following the recent Ontario decision in Ahluwalia, which established a new tort of family violence, this episode explores the work of two women and two organizations working to try to protect victims of violence. Deepa Mattoo, Executive Director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic in Toronto, speaks to Julie about what the Clinic does to serve marginalized and vulnerable women and the range of services they offer to help rebuild lives, as well as her ideas for ways that an over-stretched system could work better and serve more people.
Humera Jabir
Reflecting on Deepa’s interview, Humera Jabir of West Coast LEAF talks about her work on test case litigation and other strategies to try to expand support and legal assistance to those experiencing family violence, especially single parents.
Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2022 ONSC 1303 (CanLII)
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
In Other News
Shannon Meikle
This week our In Other News Correspondent is Research Assistant Shannon Meikle. This week Shannon discusses: new family law legislation from Nova Scotia, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice announcement about a partial in-person return to court hearings for family lawyers, and Chief Justice Richard Wagner’s statement that he’s “enormously preoccupied” with the access to justice issues that arise out of Canadians being forced to self-represent at the Supreme Court.
“Changes to Parenting and Support Act Will Strengthen Family Justice” (Govt. of Nova Scotia)
“Ontario family lawyers to return to courtrooms beginning in April: Superior Court” (Law Times)
“Supreme Court Chief Justice ‘enormously preoccupied’ by access to justice concerns” (National Post)
Jumping Off the Ivory Tower is produced and hosted by Julie Macfarlane and Dayna Cornwall; production and editing by Brauntë Petric; Other News produced and hosted by Shannon Meikle; promotion by Moya McAlister and the NSRLP team.