By The Canadian Press

Legal Aid Alberta may take strike action

May 9, 2018 | 8:06 AM

A lawyers’ group says if the Alberta government doesn’t spend more money soon to fix legal aid they may go on strike.

The Calgary Criminal Defence Lawyers Association says Legal Aid Alberta needs cash now so the province’s working poor can get a lawyer if they need one.

Association president Ian Savage says lawyers could do what their legal-aid counterparts in Ontario did five years ago when they essentially struck to bring about change.

A spokesman for Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley says the government increased legal-aid funding in this year’s budget to reflect the province’s commitment to ensuring the service is available for those who need it.