AN EVALUATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR MEASURING SUCCESS IN COURT ANNEXED MEDIATION IN SASKATCHEWAN

This thesis proposes an evaluation of court annexed mediation in Saskatchewan through Canada’s evolving access to justice framework, arguing that traditional measures such as settlement rates, user satisfaction, and docket efficiency provide an incomplete picture of mediation’s justice impact. Drawing on the Access to Justice Measurement Framework (A2JMF), the research proposes a people centred evaluative approach that prioritizes population level access, user experience, and long term outcomes. The analysis traces the historical and legislative development of mediation in Saskatchewan, revealing a strong institutional foundation but limited mechanisms for systematic, equity oriented evaluation. Empirical research demonstrates broad acceptance of mediation among litigants, lawyers, and judges, yet also highlights persistent concerns regarding power imbalances, inconsistent data collection, and the absence of oversight regarding the fairness and durability of mediated agreements. The thesis concludes that Saskatchewan’s mediation system, while well established, requires rigorous, access to justice-based evaluation to ensure that it functions not merely as an efficiency tool but as a genuinely equitable and responsive component of the province’s civil justice system.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Laws (LL.M.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Law

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Ole Ibiam, Oledi

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Michaela, Keet
• Heavin, Heather

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Surtees, Doug
• Buer, Sarah

• Court-annexed mediation, Saskatchewan, Evaluative Framework, success of court annexed mediation, mediation

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/18244

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/18244