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By rdnewsNOW Staff
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Alberta proposes changes to Legal Aid Funding, Law Foundation responds

Jan 17, 2025 | 12:20 PM

The Alberta Law Foundation says proposed changes to the funding of Legal Aid Alberta have led them to launch a public awareness campaign in an effort to protect non-profit funding and access to justice in the province.

Representatives explain that the Foundation’s revenue is generated by interest earned on Alberta lawyers’ pooled trust accounts. The Foundation manages these funds to provide grants to non-profits that support everyday Albertans and vulnerable populations in accessing the legal system.

Currently, the Foundation is provincially mandated to contribute 25 per cent of its annual revenues to help fund Legal Aid Alberta, while the remainder is granted to more than 65 non-profits and their justice initiatives.

The Foundation says the provincial government has proposed to double that mandated contribution to 50 per cent without an increase to Legal Aid’s budget, meaning the province’s contribution would be reduced and less Foundation grants would be available for other initiatives.

“Rural communities across this province experience more barriers to accessing justice than their urban counterparts,” commented Kathy Parsons, Executive Director, Community Legal Clinic – Central Alberta. “This proposed change will fundamentally impair the ability of Albertans to access justice, particularly those who live outside the major urban centres. Many vulnerable Albertans will be left with nowhere to turn.”

In response to the proposal, the Foundation has launched the “Defend Access to Justice” public awareness campaign, which includes resources for concerned Albertans to send a letter to the Government of Alberta communicating their opposition.

Additionally, the Foundation says it will be working with grantees, stakeholders and the general public to highlight unintended consequences of the proposal, including a one-third cut in funding to other organizations.

When asked about the proposal, Justin Brattinga, senior press secretary to the minister of finance and president of treasury board, provided the following statement:

“Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans have access to an effective and affordable justice system. This includes making sure vulnerable and low-income Albertans can secure timely legal aid services now and for years to come.”

He added, “We are carefully considering all options when it comes to funding legal aid, including changing the statutory contribution that the Alberta Law Foundation provides to Legal Aid Alberta. Alberta’s government will continue to ensure there is sufficient funding for legal aid.”

In their press release, members of the Alberta Law Foundation say that along with the proposed increase to its contribution, the province has proposed a decrease in its own, which would result in a net decrease of resources for the program.

They add that Alberta is one of four jurisdictions in Canada that have a statutory requirement for its law foundation to fund its legal aid plan. They say most other provinces and territories fund it through government revenues.

by rdnewsNOW Staff