TWO PROGRAMS: What You Should Know About Ontario Family Responsibility Office Enforcement AND Ottawa’s Dispute Resolution Officers Program

Reeve Kako’s presentation outlines how the Family Responsibility Office uses driver’s licence suspension as an enforcement tool in support cases, with a focus on the statutory process, response options, and the strict procedural requirements for refraining motions. It highlights the governing legislative framework, the distinction between first and final notices, the role of financial disclosure, and the limits of court intervention, while emphasizing practical steps counsel should take when advising payors facing enforcement. 

Associate Justice Imran E. Kamal’s presentation introduces the Dispute Resolution Officers program in Ottawa as a practical mechanism for improving the family court process through earlier conferences, settlement support, and more efficient case management. It focuses on how DROs can help narrow issues, promote disclosure, assist self-represented parties, and move matters toward resolution or readiness for the next court step, with an emphasis on preparation and efficient use of available court resources.