On July 1, we sent the same five questions to the leaders of Quebec’s five main political parties, with the same deadline. To date, only the Quebec Liberal Party has sent us its answers. We committed to reproducing them in full: that is what we are doing here.
The answers published here are those sent by the Quebec Liberal Party, reproduced in full, without cuts and without comment on our part. They were provided in French and translated by EnDroit.ca for our English-language readers. The French version is authoritative. Both original documents are available below, so that anyone can verify.
Question 1Access to justice
Costs and delays are often described as the main obstacles to justice for citizens of average or modest means. In your view, what are the most urgent priorities to make justice truly accessible, and what role should the State play?
The current situation is unacceptable. Court delays continue to grow while criminal cases are stayed for unreasonable delays and courthouses operate below capacity for lack of staff. Quebecers deserve a justice system that renders decisions within reasonable timeframes.
The system must be given the resources it needs, along with a genuine policy of regionalizing justice. Processes must also be simplified, and the development of alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, must continue.
Finally, access to justice also depends on better access to legal aid. The eligibility thresholds no longer reflect the cost of living and must be revised. We also wish to encourage greater participation from jurists and private firms, particularly in the regions, in order to improve access to services.
Question 2Self-represented litigants
A growing number of citizens appear alone before the courts. How much importance do you place on this reality, and do you see ways to better inform and better support them?
Self-represented litigants are a growing reality that deserves our full attention. Even though some choose to represent themselves, this situation is often the result of the cost of legal services or a lack of access to lawyers, particularly in the regions.
We must act on two fronts. First, reduce the obstacles by raising the eligibility thresholds for legal aid, by encouraging greater participation from private lawyers, and by working to increase the legal workforce. Second, better support citizens who represent themselves by strengthening the funding of access-to-justice organizations, by simplifying the information available, and by developing more support tools. Our objective must be that no one is disadvantaged before the courts because they cannot afford to be represented.
Question 3Judicial independence and public trust
According to a Léger poll conducted for the Barreau, a majority of Quebecers are concerned about possible political influence on judicial decisions. How does your party intend to preserve the independence of the justice system and strengthen public trust in its institutions?
Judicial independence is one of the foundations of the rule of law. Citizens must have the certainty that judges render their decisions based on the law and the facts, never on political pressure or public opinion.
Elected officials have every right to debate court decisions, but they also have a duty to do so with respect and responsibility. Systematically calling into question the impartiality of judges weakens trust in our democratic institutions.
At the Quebec Liberal Party, we are committed to preserving this independence. We will continue to respect institutions and to work with actors in the legal community to improve access to justice. An independent justice system is an essential condition of a free and democratic society.
Question 4The next generation and access in the regions
Several regions of Quebec lack legal professionals, which limits access to justice outside major centres. How does your party envision the role of the next generation of jurists and the servicing of underserved regions?
Access to legal services in the regions is a major issue. It is not only about increasing the number of professionals, but about ensuring that each region has the expertise it genuinely needs.
The government must work with regional bar associations, law faculties and universities in order to establish a portrait of the needs and to put in place targeted recruitment strategies. Training in the regions must also be encouraged, and financial or tax incentives must be assessed to encourage young jurists to practise there. The objective is simple: that all Quebecers have access to quality legal services, regardless of their postal code.
Question 5The bigger picture
The Barreau’s Summit is about the rule of law. Beyond the courts, what does a strong rule of law concretely mean for citizens, in your view, and what place does this issue occupy in your platform?
A strong rule of law is the guarantee that no one is above the law and that everyone’s rights and freedoms are protected by independent, credible and accessible institutions.
This means an effective justice system, independent courts, respected institutions and a government that acts in compliance with the rules it imposes on itself. It also means protecting the rights of minorities and the equality of all before the law, even when these principles are at times unpopular.
At a time when several democracies are seeing their institutions weakened, we believe that political leaders have a duty to be the first defenders of the rule of law. It is an essential condition of public trust and of the proper functioning of our democracy.
EnDroit.ca · Law, closer to citizens
The door remains open
The same list of five questions was sent on July 1, 2026 to the leaders of the five main parties represented in the National Assembly, with the same deadline and the same conditions. To date, only the Quebec Liberal Party has sent us its answers.
This initiative remains open. Should the Coalition Avenir Québec, the Parti Québécois, Québec solidaire or the Conservative Party of Quebec wish to send us their answers, these will be reproduced in full, under the same conditions, and added to this file.
Full reproduction. The answers published above are reproduced in their entirety, as received, without cuts or modification. They were sent by the Content Team — Elections 2026 of the Quebec Liberal Party, and not personally by its leader.
Translation. The answers were provided in French. The English text published here is a faithful translation by EnDroit.ca, offered for the benefit of our English-language readers. In case of any discrepancy, the French version is authoritative and remains available in the original document above.
Redaction. In the original document made available for download, only the name of one person listed in copy has been masked, in order to protect that person. No other element of the email has been removed.
Independence. EnDroit.ca is an independent, non-partisan citizen platform, not affiliated with any political party, professional order or government body. We take no position on the answers published here and draw no conclusions from them: we reproduce them so that citizens may judge for themselves.
This text does not constitute legal advice.
References
EnDroit.ca, Request for comment on access to justice and the rule of law, ahead of the Quebec Summit on the Rule of Law, letter sent to the Quebec Liberal Party, July 1, 2026 (document available for download above).
Quebec Liberal Party, Content Team — Elections 2026, written reply sent to EnDroit.ca, July 16, 2026 (document available for download above).
Barreau du Québec, Quebec Summit on the Rule of Law, September 8 and 9, 2026.
Léger poll conducted for the Barreau du Québec on Quebecers’ trust in the justice system.
French version of this article: Le Parti libéral du Québec répond aux citoyens sur l’accès à la justice.
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