Fraser Advocacy: Our Decade in Review
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| Photo Credit: Toronto Life GEORGE PIMENTEL PHOTOGRAPHY |
This year Fraser Advocacy will celebrate
it’s 20th year. In our holiday card, we put out our 2020 Vision:
Peace, Joy & Justice. We’re also looking back on our best decade yet where
our work changed lives and law and social policy. We’re pleased to be able to
serve many people and organization in a variety before a variety tribunals. Here are some highlights of the decade of
things we can talk about:
2010: Boom! Supreme Court of Canada
releases R.
v. Conway, 2010 SCC 22 which made Charter
relief accessible before administrative tribunals. We brought the original
application before the Ontario Review Board.
2011: We act for the
Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth at an
inquest into the death of a mother and three of her young children. We
continue the work on behalf of the Child Advocate at an
inquest into the death of young person in custody.
Youth
Leaving Care Hearings: Children and Youth in care from across the province
descend upon the Ontario Legislature (“their house” as the Clerk called it when
she welcomed them) to address the issues faced by youth leaving care. We
witnessed all of the moving and compelling testimony of the youth.
2013: We act for the
Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth at the inquest into the death of Jeffrey
Baldwin. Inquest fuels the push for fundamental change in child welfare.
Also: Bill C-54
introduced by the Government of Canada. We argue that the legislature
stigmatizes people in the forensic mental health system perpetuating myths and
stereotypes. The Bill eventually passes in 2014.
2014: Teaching! Suzan
takes on an Instructor Contract Position teaching
Mental Health Policy and Health Equity for Faculty of Health Science and the
Critical Disability Studies Program at York University - Spring Session 2014
2015: We secure the
release of a man under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Review Board on appeal
to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
2016: We act at the Inquest
into the death of Katelynn Sampson. The jury makes 173 recommendations and
the Government moves to introduce child welfare reform in 2017.
2017: Divisional Court
releases decision in a mandamus application we brought to compel the Director
of ODSP to follow a direction of the Social Benefits Tribunal and reinstate
benefits. Our client wins!
2018: The Mega-Year:
We act as counsel at the Inquiry
into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls for a group of 20
families and as co-counsel at the Inquiry
into the Safety and Security of Long-Term Care. As those come to a close,
we close 2018 by representing the family of Bradley Chapman at the inquest
into his death leading to calls for a public health response to the drug
poisoning crisis.
And – the Government
announces plans to close the Child Advocate’s Office. Suzan responds with an
op-ed in the Globe and Mail.
2019: The Honourable
Justice Gillese releases her report into Long-Term Care. We set out our hopes
for the report in an
op-ed in the Toronto Star.
We are added to RefertoHer™ and participate as a
mentor at the Advocate’s Society Women in Litigation Symposium.
And - I meet Masai Ujiri - he touches my phone!
2020 brings our 20th
anniversary and new challenges for our clients. We have lots of worries about
what the cuts to Legal Aid Ontario and elimination of the Child Advocate means
for Ontario’s most vulnerable. We’re going to keep working on pursuing our
vision!