No simple answers to complex issues

Recent not guilty decisions out of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Stanley and Cormier) reveal the complexities and inequities in our legal system. As Saskatchewan’s only community legal clinic, CLASSIC is uniquely positioned to understand those issues and the effect they have on marginalized individuals.

CLASSIC provides legal and further social justice services for clients unable to access legal services because of financial and/ or systemic barriers. We also develop leadership by providing training to law and other university students, thereby fostering a wider understanding of “access to justice” issues.

Many of our clients are impacted by the ongoing consequences of Canada’s colonial history — a tradition embedded with significant systemic issues. CLASSIC recognizes that simply providing legal support services only addresses the end effects and that a closer look at the causes is a critical path in the journey toward social and legal equality.

Research by College of Law Professor Sarah Buhler revealed clients’ distrust of the justice system, with many indicating hesitation about using the law to assert their rights for fear of harmful repercussions.

Canada’s complicated colonial history cannot be ignored. Complex issues do not have simple solutions and the history of “how we got here” will not simply disappear. CLASSIC embraces the conciliatory messages from the Boushie family, Indigenous leaders and from our elected leaders. We believe that education, information and open discussions will support reconciliation — in other words, a society walking toward the future together. CLASSIC stands committed to the reconciliation work that needs to be done.

Chantelle Johnson, executive director, CLASSIC