Use the National Justice Survey data to inform decision-making and effective responses to serious legal problems (CA0095)

4.3 Monitor Canadians' experiences with serious legal problems and enhance the Department of Justice Canada's understanding of effective responses using findings from the National Justice Survey and Serious Legal Problems in Canada
Publish findings from the National Justice Survey and from Statistics Canada's Canadian Legal Problems Survey (CLPS), in user-friendly formats (for example, infographics or a simple dashboard).
Use the National Justice Survey data to inform decision-making both by the Department of Justice Canada and by key external stakeholders

Note: This commitment is part of a commitment cluster in the original action plan and has been disaggregated by the OGP Support Unit. See the action plan for details.

Issue to be addressed
Many Canadians continue to face systemic barriers when accessing government programs and services, particularly those from marginalized communities defined by race, gender, disability, income level or other intersecting factors. When public services are not designed with inclusivity at their core, they risk reinforcing inequality, limiting access to essential resources, and excluding voices from decision-making.

This issue highlights the ongoing need for government policies and services that are intentionally inclusive, equitable and informed by community input. By actively engaging affected populations and integrating their feedback, programs can become more user-friendly, fair and responsive ensuring that all Canadians feel seen and supported. Inclusive design is not just a matter of fairness; it's essential for effective governance and social cohesion.

Problem statement
Government programs and services often do not meet the diverse needs of all Canadians, particularly those from marginalized communities. When policies are not designed with inclusivity and equity in mind, they risk excluding people from essential resources and full participation in civic life. Without actively incorporating feedback from affected communities, services can remain inaccessible, unfair and unresponsive, which undermining trust and limiting their ability to serve the populations they are intended to support.

Commitment
The Government of Canada commits to designing and delivering government programs and services that are inclusive, equitable and informed by lived experiences. By actively engaging individuals across diverse identities, we will make sure public services are accessible, responsive and reflective of the real needs of Canadians. This means embedding inclusive design principles into every stage of policy and service development and creating feedback mechanisms that empower communities to shape the systems that serve them. The goal is to build trust, promote fairness and strengthen social cohesion.

What will we do?

4.3 Monitor Canadians' experiences with serious legal problems and enhance the Department of Justice Canada's understanding of effective responses using findings from the National Justice Survey and Serious Legal Problems in Canada
Publish findings from the National Justice Survey and from Statistics Canada's Canadian Legal Problems Survey (CLPS), in user-friendly formats (for example, infographics or a simple dashboard).
Use the National Justice Survey data to inform decision-making both by the Department of Justice Canada and by key external stakeholders
4.3.1. Number of hits on the National Justice Survey results. Biannually until 2029. JUS
4.3.2. Number of Justice Canada research publications and resources that use National Justice Survey data and are publicly available. Biannually until 2029. JUS
4.3.3. Provide examples of National Justice Survey data being used to inform decision-making. Feedback will be compiled in March 2027 and at the end of the commitment and published in a report. JUS
4.3.4. Qualitative feedback from key stakeholders on accessibility and usability of the data. Feedback will be compiled in March 2027 and at the end of the commitment and published in a report. JUS