Feb 3, 2012
Battle for Legal Aid Continues
BC Lawyers who act as duty counsel have withdrawn their services as part of their campaign to pressure the government to restore funding for legal aid. The two-week withdrawal of services, that began on February 1, is phase two of the action, which will see the withdrawal of services escalate each month until a full withdrawal for the entire month of April.
The Trial Lawyers’ Association, the organization behind the action, has estimated that approximately two-thirds of BC’s provincial courthouses will be impacted by the withdrawal. They note that a provincial tax on legal fees generates $140 million each year that is meant to fund legal aid, yet the government puts less than half of it into the program. Their news release can be viewed here.
The Coalition for Public Legal Services, a group made up of a number of advocacy groups and legal organizations in BC, endorsed the action and the call to restore funding to legal aid, noting that BC is the third lowest province in per capita spending on legal aid. The result, according to the Coalition, is that low-income and marginalized people have nowhere to turn for legal representation with issues relating to family law, tenancy, employment standards and immigration.
The next phase of withdrawals is scheduled for March 1-21. For more information, click here.
