Legal Action
Dementia Justice Canada is developing a public interest litigation and intervention initiative to promote access to justice for people with dementia. Our goal is to address systemic legal issues and contribute to broader change that protects the rights and dignity of people with dementia.
We will be hosting a public briefing to introduce this initiative, explain how public interest litigation and interventions work, and provide information on how potential cases can be submitted for consideration.
We will be hosting a public briefing to introduce this initiative, explain how public interest litigation and interventions work, and provide information on how potential cases can be submitted for consideration.
Public Briefing
We invite lawyers, advocates, individuals, community organizations, and members of the public to attend our upcoming online briefing:
Launch of the Public Interest Litigation & Interventions Initiative
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Online (Zoom Meeting)
Registration: Eventbrite
This one-hour session will cover:
We invite lawyers, advocates, individuals, community organizations, and members of the public to attend our upcoming online briefing:
Launch of the Public Interest Litigation & Interventions Initiative
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Online (Zoom Meeting)
Registration: Eventbrite
This one-hour session will cover:
- What public interest litigation is and how it is used to create systemic change
- What legal interventions are and how they differ from being a party to a case
- Examples of cases
- Our approach to selecting cases for involvement
- Funding and capacity considerations
- How to submit a potential case for review
Focus Areas
We aim to participate in strategic cases that raise broader legal issues within our focus areas. We are particularly interested in cases involving:
Criminal Justice
Legal issues arising where an accused person has dementia, including fitness to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and procedural fairness.
Elder Abuse
Legal responses to abuse and neglect affecting people with dementia, including gaps in existing protections.
Age and Disability Discrimination
Human rights violations experienced by people with dementia.
Mental Capacity & Vulnerability
Issues relating to vulnerability to abuse or undue influence, particularly in the context of medical assistance in dying (MAiD).
Seeking Cases
We are currently seeking to identify our first cases suitable for public interest litigation or intervention. If you are a lawyer, advocate, or individual aware of a matter that raises systemic legal issues affecting people with dementia, we invite you to contact us. Please note that communicating with us does not create a lawyer-client relationship.
Due to limited capacity, we are only able to participate in select matters. We thank you for your interest.
We aim to participate in strategic cases that raise broader legal issues within our focus areas. We are particularly interested in cases involving:
Criminal Justice
Legal issues arising where an accused person has dementia, including fitness to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and procedural fairness.
Elder Abuse
Legal responses to abuse and neglect affecting people with dementia, including gaps in existing protections.
Age and Disability Discrimination
Human rights violations experienced by people with dementia.
Mental Capacity & Vulnerability
Issues relating to vulnerability to abuse or undue influence, particularly in the context of medical assistance in dying (MAiD).
Seeking Cases
We are currently seeking to identify our first cases suitable for public interest litigation or intervention. If you are a lawyer, advocate, or individual aware of a matter that raises systemic legal issues affecting people with dementia, we invite you to contact us. Please note that communicating with us does not create a lawyer-client relationship.
Due to limited capacity, we are only able to participate in select matters. We thank you for your interest.
