Since the rise of the Canadian welfare state in the aftermath of the Second World War, the politics of social policy and fiscal federalism have been at the centre of federal-provincial relations. Recent events have given impetus for scholars to re-examine these issues. In 2002, the Quebec Commission on Fiscal Imbalance released its report, which introduced the term 'vertical fiscal imbalance' into the vocabulary of Canadian politics. Essentially, the commission determined that a disjunction between revenue-raising capacity and expenditures involving different orders of government - vertical fiscal imbalance - was an urgent problem that must be addressed. Dilemmas of Solidarity is both a reflection on and response to that finding. Editors Sujit Choudhry, Jean-Francois Graudreault-Desbiens, and Lorne Sossin bring together an array of respected legal and political scholars to reflect on the Quebec Commission's findings. The contributors to this volume illustrate how recent debates surrounding Canada's equalization program suggest alternative ways to approach the issue. The goal of Dilemmas of Solidarity is to stand back from the particulars of different policy debates, to enable scholars to reflect on basic questions regarding redistribution. This fascinating collection will undoubtedly inform a more nuanced and wide-ranging debate both among academics and policy practitioners than has occurred in this past. Contributors: Paul Boothe Katherine Boothe Sujit Choudhry David Duff Jean-Francois Gaudreault-DesBiens Andree Lajoie Alain Noel Peter H. Russell Richard Simeon Lorne Sossin Fran ois Vaillancourt Daniel Weinstock.

Though most conceptions of the rule of law assume equality before the law - and hence equal access to the justice system - this basic right is not being met for many low and middle income Canadians. This book focuses on the problem of civil access to justice for middle income earners - those whose household income is high enough to disqualify them from legal aid but not high enough to cover the costs of litigation.

Featuring contributions by leading Canadian and international scholars, practitioners, and members of the judiciary, this multidisciplinary collection draws on scholarship in the fields of law, social science, and public policy. There is a particular emphasis on family law, consumer law, and employment law, as these are the areas where research has indicated that unmet legal needs are highest.

Middle Income Access to Justice presents a variety of innovative solutions, from dispute resolution process reforms to the development of non-lawyer forms of assistance and new methods for funding legal expenses. In doing so, it lays the foundation for the development of a much-needed new delivery model to provide early intervention for legal services.

The public has a right to be able to obtain legal assistance from someone who is independent of the state and the citizenry and who can, therefore, put their clients' interests first without fear of constraint or punishment. In other words, the public has a right to an independent Bar which can protect the rights of individuals from being violated by the state or other citizens.

The independence of the Bar, like the independence of the judiciary, is essential to the maintenance of the rule of law and the proper functioning of the administration of justice, as well as being one of the hallmarks of a free and democratic society. While the need for an independent Bar has never been greater, the fragility of this ideal, particularly when faced with urgent public policy priorities, is apparent. The independence of the Bar is only as strong as the belief on the part of lawyers, the public, the judiciary, and the government that it is worth preserving and promoting.

The rationale for the Law Society of Upper Canada launching the Task Force on the Rule of Law and the Independence of the Bar was to enhance public understanding of, and commitment to, the independence of the Bar and to contribute to the ongoing debate on the limits of this independence. The Task Force commissioned six background studies from some of the leading academic voices on the legal profession from across the country. The papers represent the most comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the concept of the independence of the Bar ever undertaken in Canada. They also represent a significant resource for those who wish to build on and extend this research.

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