Strategic Directions (2020-2023)

Direction #1: Promote excellence in the adjudicative and regulatory administrative justice systems

SOAR is uniquely placed to encourage ways of maintaining and improving the integrity and effectiveness of Ontario’s administrative justice system. We need to proactively generate innovative ideas and respond to external developments that may put the system in jeopardy, in partnership with others who share similar goals

We will:

• Convene roundtables on topics related to administrative justice

• Continue to build in system improvement topics for discussion at our annual conference.
• Advocate for the excellence and integrity of, and equal access to, the adjudicative and regulatory justice systems including the promotion of equity and diversity within those systems.

• Define SOAR’s approach to advocacy – including objectives, limitations, and partnerships – to advance the goal of system improvement.
• Continue to promote fairness and independence in adjudicators’ appointments and re-appointments.
• Continue our commitment to excellence through the annual awarding of the SOAR Medal and Scholarship.

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Direction #2: Strengthen and expand educational programs

SOAR’s education and training programs are well established, well attended and well received. Our strategy is to continue to focus on our core programs while finding ways to strengthen and expand them.  Specifically, we will:

• Develop online programs for virtual presentation.
• Offer Alternative Dispute Resolution and advanced adjudicator training.
• Enhance faculty training and recruitment with a commitment to recruit speakers reflective of Ontario’s diverse communities.
• Promote custom training-based modules within our community on our core programmes.  Options for presentation include in-person, on-line (live) and pre-recorded. 

Direction #3: Build capacity to achieve objectives. 

We continue to build our organizational capacity to fully discharge our mandate and to make progress on our strategic directions in a way that is inclusive and reflects Ontario’s diversity. We will: 

• Engage in more active recruitment of volunteers for SOAR and its committees reflective of the diversity within Ontario’s communities.
• Continue to engage with our volunteers, through virtual or in-person events such as Faculty appreciation events, our AGM, SOAR Medal and SOAR Scholarship presentations and awards
• Continue to develop succession planning strategies for board members, program directors, and faculty.
• Collaborate with our stakeholders and other organizations, (such as OBA, TAS, Tribunals Ontario, Tribunal Chairs and Regulatory bodies)
• Continue to consult with members, program attendees, and stakeholders – including adjudicators, regulators, counsel and staff – to learn more about their needs and priorities with a view to developing further SOAR programmes and activities.
• Increase our online presence to promote SOAR’s programming and initiatives.