(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Public feedback

Province looking to improve family justice services

Nov 23, 2024 | 12:42 PM

The Government of Alberta is turning to the public for feedback on how to improve family justice services.

An online survey is open to Albertans until Dec. 20 to share their views and experiences on how family justice services could support their needs more efficiently.

As of October 2024, 48,156 Albertans accessed pre-court services through the Family Justice Strategy.

“Accessing family justice services can be challenging during difficult times, which is why it’s so important to have a streamlined and consistent process,” Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

“Alberta’s government is committed to improving the family justice system, and we want to hear directly from Albertans about what’s working and what needs improvement. If you’ve used family justice services, we encourage you to share your feedback by taking this survey.”

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Family justice services includes services such as mediation and family court counsellors as a first step to seeking a divorce or resolving spousal support, parenting or child support issues.

“Family justice services, such as mediation, play a vital role in helping families resolve conflicts and find better solutions collaboratively,” Brad Mustard, KC, chair, Alberta Family Mediation Society.

“Mediation fosters constructive communication and reduces conflict, making it an essential resource for families navigating challenging situations. Hearing directly from those who use these services is critical for driving meaningful improvements. I encourage all Albertans to share their insights by participating in the survey.”

The province has made recent investments in family justice including $5 million in the 2023 budget to expand pre-court services in Edmonton and Calgary.

Pre-court services called the Family Justice Strategy, will be expanded to Red Deer in early 2025. This comes after an additional $3-million investment in 2024.

“The perspectives of Albertans on their experiences within the family justice system are incredibly important,” Arifa Virani, acting executive director, Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Alberta.

“Just as resolving family conflict necessitates dialogue and collaboration, the family justice system operates as a partnership among the government, family justice service providers, and the families who use the services. We commend the government’s efforts to engage with both service providers and families and we hope as many Albertans as possible will make their voices heard.”