Links

Legal Aid Ontario (http://legalaid.on.ca/en/)

Legal Aid Ontario’s (“LAO”) mandate in the Legal Aid Services Act, 1998 is to “promote access to justice throughout Ontario for low-income individuals by means of providing consistently high quality legal aid services in a cost-effective and efficient manner.”

Family Law Information Program (http://www.legalaid.on.ca/en/getting/flip.asp)

Established by LAO, the Family Law Information Program (FLIP) is a free online resource for families, former spouses and partners about to enter the family justice system. The goal of the program is to help you make more informed decisions about legal and emotional issues that often arise at the end of a relationship.

Human Rights Legal Support Centre (http://www.hrlsc.on.ca/)

The new Human Rights Legal Support Centre offers human rights legal services to individuals throughout Ontario who believe they have experienced discrimination. The Centre’s services range from legal assistance in filing an application at the Tribunal to legal representation on human rights applications.

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (http://www.hrto.ca/)

All claims of discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code are dealt with through applications filed directly with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. The Tribunal’s primary role is to provide an expeditious and accessible process to assist parties to resolve applications through mediation, and to decide those applications where the parties are unable to reach a resolution through settlement.

Justice for Children and Youth (http://www.jfcy.org/)

Justice for Children and Youth (“JCY”) provides select legal representation to low-income children and youth in Toronto and vicinity. It is a non-profit legal aid clinic that specializes in protecting the rights of those facing conflicts with the legal system, education, social service or mental health systems. JCY gives summary legal advice, information and assistance to young people, parents (in education matters), professionals and community groups across Ontario.

Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (http://www.acto.ca/)\

The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) works to better the housing situation of Ontario residents who have low incomes including tenants, co-op members and people who are homeless. ACTO achieves this through: test case litigation; lobbying and law reform; housing policy work; community organizing; and, public legal education.

Landlord and Tenant Board (http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/index.htm)

The role of the Landlord and Tenant Board is to provide information about the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and to resolve disputes between most residential landlords and tenants. The mandate of the LTB is to provide all Ontarians with timely access to specialized, expert and effective dispute resolution in housing matters.

Social Benefits Tribunal (http://www.sbt.gov.on.ca/site4.aspx)

The Social Benefits Tribunal hears appeals by people in Ontario who disagree with a decision that affects the amount of or their eligibility for social assistance. The Tribunal hears appeals of people who disagree with a decision that affects the amount of or their eligibility for the social assistance they receive under the Ontario Works Act, 1997 or the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997.

Hearings are held throughout the province. Most hearings are heard by one member of the Tribunal.

Custody Review Board (http://www.cfsrb.ca/en/crb/)

The Custody Review Board (“CRB”) is governed by the Child and Family Services Act and the Ministry of Correctional Services Act.

The CRB conducts reviews requested by youth who are 12 years of age or older and who have committed an offence between the ages of 12 and 16 with respect to: a particular placement where a young person is being held or to which the young person has been transferred; a Provincial Director’s refusal to authorize the young person’s temporary release or reintegration leave; and a young person’s transfer from a place of open custody to a place of secure custody.

The CRB also conducts reviews requested by individuals who are 16 years of age or older and who have committed an offence between the ages of 16 and 18 with respect to: a Provincial Director’s decision to hold a young person in or transfer the young person to a maximum security facility; a decision about a particular placement where a young person is being held, or to which the young person has been transferred; and a Provincial Director’s refusal to authorize a young person’s temporary release or reintegration leave.

Justice Net (http://www.justicenet.ca/)

JusticeNet is a not-for-profit service helping people in need of legal expertise, whose income is too high to access legal aid and too low to afford standard legal fees.

Law Help Ontario (http://www.lawhelpontario.org/)

Law Help Ontario (LHO) is operated by Pro Bono Law Ontario and provides a wide range of legal information and resources online. In Toronto and Ottawa, LHO operates self-help centres for low income, self- represented litigants appearing before Superior Court or Small Claims Court. Lawyers at LHO centres provide pro bono (free) assistance for limited civil matters (no family or criminal law).

Lawyer Referral Service (http://www.lsuc.on.ca/faq.aspx?id=1146)

Whether you are buying your first home, drawing up a will or starting a new business, if you need a lawyer but you are not sure how to find one, the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) can help.

LRS will provide you with the name of a lawyer who will provide a free consultation of up to 30 minutes to help you determine your rights and options. You can access the service by calling: 1-800-268-8326 or 416-947-3330 (within the GTA).