Resources

To protect the public, the Barreau du Québec monitors the practice of the legal profession, promotes the rule of law, enhances the value of the profession and supports members in the practice of law. The "For the Public" section of its site offers a wealth of information of interest to the general public, including all the vignettes in the "Le droit de savoir" television series, which aims to inform the general public about certain aspects of the law applicable in Quebec. There's also information on will searches, the attorney-client relationship and access to justice.

The Centre d'accès à l'information juridique is a non-profit organization created to facilitate access to legal information for all lawyers. The CAIJ is an organization associated with the Quebec Bar. The CAIJ website offers a wide range of resources that can be consulted free of charge, including articles on various legal topics, legal doctrine and a dictionary of legal terms.

The mission of the Chambre des notaires is to protect the public by promoting the preventive practice of law, by supporting a notarial practice that serves the public, is innovative and strives for excellence, and by promoting access to justice for all. This site offers a wealth of information on family and married life, wills and estates, as well as business and real estate.

The Commission's mission is to ensure the promotion and respect of the rights set out in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, the Youth Protection Act and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. On its website, the Commission provides a wealth of information on discrimination, harassment, exploitation and, in general, the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Charter.

CNESST promotes and enforces workplace rights and obligations for both workers and employers in Quebec. To this end, it: promotes fair and balanced labour relations; ensures the implementation and maintenance of pay equity; encourages workplaces to take charge of health and safety; compensates victims of occupational injuries and oversees their rehabilitation. Its website contains information on labour standards, industrial accidents and occupational diseases, prevention and pay equity.

The Commission des services juridiques is the organization responsible for applying the Act respecting legal aid and the provision of certain other legal services in Quebec. Legal aid may be granted to any financially eligible person for various legal services in civil, family, administrative, criminal and youth law. This site contains legal information capsules, columns and checklists for citizens.

The Curateur public oversees the protection of incapable persons. To this end, it raises public awareness of the need for protection in the event of incapacity, and assists families and loved ones who represent an incapacitated person, administer his or her patrimony or that of a minor, or participate in a guardianship council. Its website provides a wealth of information on incapacity (mandate in case of incapacity, guardianship, curatorship, etc.).

The DPCP is a public agency that authorizes and directs criminal and penal prosecutions on behalf of the Quebec government. Through its commitment and that of its staff, the DPCP helps to ensure that justice is done, that the public benefits from a justice system that is fair, impartial and equitable, and that they can live in a safe society. Through the DPCP Spousal and Sexual Violence Info Line (1-877-547-3727), victims of sexual or spousal violence can speak directly with prosecutors who specialize in handling such requests, to obtain quick and easy information on the criminal justice process following a denunciation of this nature. Information on support measures for victims of crime during the judicial process is also available on Québec.ca.

Éducaloi is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inform Quebecers of their rights and obligations by providing them with quality legal information in simple, accessible language. A wealth of useful legal information is available free of charge on this site.

The Fondation du Barreau du Québec is a non-profit organization that plays a leading role in legal research. It supports work aimed at legal professionals, and also publishes useful and practical information tools for the general public. These publications are distributed free of charge and are available on our website.

The Government Services Portal provides general information on programs and services offered to citizens, businesses and international clientele by the Québec government and other organizations, where applicable.

The Institut de médiation et d'arbitrage du Québec (IMAQ) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to publicize and promote non-judicial methods of conflict resolution. The IMAQ does not provide institutional mediation or arbitration services. Rather, it brings together accredited mediators and arbitrators offering mediation and/or arbitration services, and gives the public and businesses access via the Internet to a list of these people, according to their competence and expertise.

The Ministry's website provides the public with pamphlets and brochures designed to make it easier to understand the laws and regulations affecting various aspects of daily life. In particular, you'll find documentation on marriage and de facto spouses, wills and estates, and family mediation, not to mention a host of forms, such as those for recourse to the Small Claims Division of the Court of Québec.

The Office de la protection du consommateur monitors the application of the laws under its responsibility, in particular the Consumer Protection Act, informs consumers collectively and individually, educates them and receives their complaints. In addition, it fosters cooperation between consumer market players.

The Porte 33 de Justice Pro Bono pilot project (in reference to article 33 of the Quebec Civil Code), in collaboration with the Centres de justice de proximité, is the source of the e-book "S'orienter dans la séparation familiale". Its aim is to provide legal and psychosocial resources, focused on the best interests of the child, to families experiencing separation.

The Québec Ombudsman investigates complaints or reports from individuals, groups, organizations or companies who feel they have been the victim of an error or injustice on the part of a Québec government department or agency, or an authority in the health and social services network. The Québec Ombudsman is independent of government, neutral and unbiased. Complaints are treated confidentially. Its services are free and easily accessible.

The Protégez-vous website aims to equip citizens to "Consume better, live better". It features a number of articles explaining consumer rights. In addition, many of Protégez-vous.ca's partners, such as the Chambre des notaires, the Office de la protection du consommateur, the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec, and many others, including the Centres de justice de proximité, publish a variety of legal articles on the site.

The Régie du logement is a specialized tribunal with jurisdiction over residential leases. Its mission is to decide disputes brought before it using a simple procedure that respects the rules of natural justice, to inform citizens of the rights and obligations arising from a lease in order to prevent conflicts from arising, and to promote conciliation between landlords and tenants. Its website contains model notices for landlords and tenants, as well as fact sheets on housing law.

The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec is a government agency reporting to the Minister of Transport, whose mission is to protect people against the risks associated with road use. Its website contains a wealth of information on rights and obligations under the Quebec Automobile Insurance Act. It also features information brochures on road safety, road accident benefits, compulsory insurance and more.

When a person files an appeal with the Tribunal administratif du Québec (TAQ) to contest the decision of a ministry, public body (board, commission, hospital, etc.) or municipality, the TAQ's role is to hold a hearing and judge whether the decision should be modified, annulled or maintained. The Tribunal also offers conciliation sessions.

Official site of the Court of Appeal, the Superior Court, the Court of Quebec, the Human Rights Tribunal and the Professions Tribunal, it presents the magistrates and numerous documents on the workings of these institutions.

This tool, offered by Pro Bono Québec, is a directory of free or low-cost legal resources available in Quebec. You'll find links to numerous organizations that can help you, many of which also offer legal information, columns and capsules on their websites.