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The necessity for significant change was clear and pressing. New Brunswick, uniquely bilingual and predominantly rural, faces chronic access-to-justice challenges that are deeply intertwined with its geography, linguistic realities, cultural diversity and socioeconomic factors. Judges, lawyers, policymakers, community leaders, academics and justice advocates gathered at the summit with a shared recognition that our current justice model (adversarial, expensive and court-centric) is failing many New Brunswick families. Family law disputes, in particular, highlight the inadequacies of our existing system, as inefficiencies, delays and prohibitive legal costs exacerbate the emotional and psychological trauma experienced by families already in distress.
During intensive discussions, summit participants reached a clear consensus on the urgent need to transition from institution-centric efficiency toward a user-centric system. Such a system prioritizes the actual needs of justice system users navigating legal issues, ensuring justice is both accessible and meaningful to those who require it most. Stakeholders identified seven critical areas requiring transformational change: shifting the justice system’s design to genuinely prioritize users; promoting community-driven initiatives; significantly enhancing multidisciplinary and non-adversarial approaches; reforming funding priorities to better support public legal services and clinics; embracing technology thoughtfully; accommodating the unique geographic challenges posed by New Brunswick’s rural communities; and respecting and integrating the province’s bilingual nature in every reform.
This summit represented not only a dialogue but also a powerful call to action. Its outcomes underscored that digital transformation must be integrated within broader systemic reforms to truly enhance justice outcomes.
Responding decisively to this call, in April 2025, the New Brunswick government announced an ambitious, forward-looking initiative to significantly upgrade the province’s justice infrastructure. Justice Minister and Attorney General Robert McKee unveiled a major investment totalling $32.7 million over the next six years dedicated to the digital transformation of New Brunswick’s court system. This strategic decision directly reflects the core recommendations of the summit, demonstrating the provincial government’s sincere commitment to placing justice users at the heart of its reform agenda.
Central to this digital initiative is the establishment of a state-of-the-art case management system designed to integrate all three levels of courts (provincial, superior and appellate courts) into one streamlined digital environment. This innovative system will facilitate electronic filings, drastically reduce redundant data entry, and may even have the potential to leverage advanced data analytics capabilities to enhance accountability and improve efficiency. Such comprehensive integration promises a significant reduction in administrative burdens and greater transparency throughout the judicial process.
Moreover, substantial upgrades to courtroom technology are included in this plan. Enhanced video-conferencing capabilities, modernized digital evidence presentation tools and automated scheduling systems will revolutionize how courts operate, drastically minimizing logistical hurdles and reducing unnecessary delays. This promises to benefit litigants, court staff and the judiciary by enhancing overall efficiency and accessibility.
Recognizing that technology alone cannot address all systemic issues, Minister McKee’s announcement importantly includes complementary investments in other critical areas. An additional $1.4 million will substantially increase the legal aid tariff, directly addressing longstanding issues related to the recruitment and retention of private bar lawyers, whose participation is crucial for timely and effective legal representation. Furthermore, a commitment of an extra $1.67 million will build the province’s internal legal capacity, reducing reliance on costly external counsel and providing greater institutional stability.
These combined initiatives represent a holistic, multifaceted approach, reflecting a profound understanding of the interconnected nature of technology, procedural justice and meaningful access. Rather than viewing digital tools as a panacea, the province’s strategy acknowledges its role as a powerful enabler of broader reforms necessary to overcome adversarialism, complexity and barriers to justice. These efforts set a pioneering example for jurisdictions across Canada grappling with similar systemic challenges.
Yet, as exciting and promising as these developments are, there remains substantial work ahead. The summit emphasized clearly that ongoing stakeholder engagement, transparent evaluation and iterative refinement are essential if the vision of truly user-centric justice is to be fully realized. Technology can indeed streamline and simplify processes, but it must be continuously informed by the evolving needs of justice system users. Moreover, the system must remain flexible and adaptive, ready to integrate new insights, adjust policies and remain sensitive to the community’s evolving expectations and needs.
As a co-organizer of this dialogue and a strong advocate for meaningful reform, I see immense promise and potential in New Brunswick’s approach. By investing strategically in technology and pairing that with targeted policy initiatives and robust community engagement, the province is charting a clear path forward. The goal is not merely to modernize systems for their own sake but to ensure that justice is genuinely equitable, accessible and responsive to all New Brunswickers, especially those historically underserved.
In essence, New Brunswick’s ongoing transformation exemplifies the type of thoughtful, innovative reform that Canadian jurisdictions must increasingly embrace. It provides not only a template but a tangible demonstration of how digital transformation, when aligned with comprehensive user-centric reform, can profoundly improve access to justice. This ambitious approach promises to ensure that justice in New Brunswick, and potentially beyond, becomes a reality accessible to all, rather than an ideal accessible only to some.
Daniel J. Escott is a research fellow at the Artificial Intelligence Risk and Regulation Lab and the Access to Justice Centre for Excellence. He is currently pursuing an LL.M. at Osgoode Hall Law School, and holds a J.D. from the University of New Brunswick and a BBA from the Memorial University of Newfoundland.
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