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Jurilinguistic Training and Documentation
Original mission of PAJLO: cornerstone of an expanded initiative
Developing specialized documentary, training and terminology
solutions for stakeholders in the Canadian justice system is, today, one of
three key components of PAJLO, along with consultation mechanisms and a
financing process for associations and high-potential projects. The strategy for
improving access to justice in both official languages dates back to the early
1980s and is what led to the creation of the National Program for the
Integration of Both Official Languages in the Administration of Justice (or
PAJLO). However, the acronym for this program has, since 2003, taken on broader
meaning, now encompassing all of the Department of Justice’s various
activities to promote access to justice in both official languages.
Decades of productive, focused efforts
Following a number of judicial decisions concerning language
rights by various courts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it became clear that
French-speaking lawyers did not have the necessary tools in common law to do
their legal work in their official language. In collaboration with various
federal and provincial partners, the Government of Canada set about remedying
this problem with a series of innovative measures that have yielded eloquent
results. For example:
The creation of four jurilinguistics centres, all affiliated with a
university or university college:
- Centre de traduction et de terminologie juridiques at Université de
Moncton
- Centre for Legal Translation and Documentation at the University of Ottawa
- Institut Joseph-Dubuc, which is affiliated with the Collège universitaire
de Saint-Boniface
- Quebec Research Centre for Private and Comparative Law at McGill
University in Montreal.
The creation of associations of French-speaking lawyers in seven common
law provinces and at the national level.
The development of common law tools in French and civil law tools in
English as well as judicial information and education tools to make
it possible to teach and practise both systems of law in official language
minority situations.
The creation and standardization of French common law vocabulary, which led
to publication of the Canadian Common Law Dictionary - Law of Property and
Estates. The content of such works, which expressly reflect the bilingual
and bijural nature of Canada, is increasingly finding its way into legislative
texts as well as numerous translations intended for students, professors and
practitioners, among others.
The production and distribution of reference and awareness documents
concerning access to justice in both of Canada’s official languages.
Expanded initiative, ongoing collaboration
In its 1995 report, the Commissioner of Official Languages
pointed out that, apart from legislative recognition of the right to access the
justice system in both official languages, it is important to recognize the role
played by judges, lawyers and all judicial personnel in implementing this right.
Moreover, according to the results of the Canada-wide study commisioned by the
Department of Justice in 2002, entitled Environmental Scan: Access to Justice
in Both Official Languages, the key stakeholders in our legal system do not
yet have all the necessary resources to meet the needs of official language
minority communities.
This is why jurilinguistic training and documentation have
remained a central part of PAJLO activities and why related initiatives are
greeted with particular interest by those responsible for the Access to
Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund. Furthermore, the members of the
Advisory Sub-Committee on Access to Justice in Both Official Languages and the
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Task Force on Access to Justice in Both Official
Languages are also actively participating in an ongoing process of reflection on
the new tools Canada can provide the legal community to help achieve the major
objectives of PAJLO.
To learn more about this vital component of PAJLO, or even
suggest a project, go to www.justice.gc.ca/en/ps
or www.pajlo.org
PAJLO Contacts
Ms. Andrée Duchesne
Senior Counsel and Manager
Justice Canada
Justice in Official Languages
275 Sparks Street
St-Andrew’s Tower, room 5020
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 954-7233
Fax: (613) 946-3106
E-mail: andree.duchesne@justice.gc.ca
Ms. Danielle Houle
Assistant, Justice in Official Laguages Unit
Justice Canada
Justice in Official Languages
275 Sparks Street
St-Andrew’s Tower, room 5018
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 957-4621
Fax: (613) 946-3106
E-mail: dhoule@justice.gc.ca
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