A Good Next Step for Legal Aid: Bar Association Reacts to New Legal Aid Funding

  • October 15, 2019

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) welcomes today’s announcement of increased funding of legal aid in British Columbia.

“We are pleased with the improvement to the tariff announced today,” said CBABC President, Ken Armstrong. “It’s important for British Columbians because it means more legal aid lawyers will be able to take on more cases to represent low-income British Columbians who qualify for assistance.”

“The new funding shows the BC government is making progress toward its obligation to provide British Columbians with an accessible and sustainable legal aid system, and the tariff is a vital part of that system,” Mr. Armstrong continued. “We’ve advocated for years to increase the tariff and bring it in line with the actual overhead costs faced by lawyers who represent legal aid clients in this province.”

CBABC recognizes the effort made by government and the Association of Legal Aid Lawyers to work together on a new agreement, as reflected in today’s announcement. The effort to improve legal aid must continue to meet the growing needs of British Columbians.

Sustainable and stable legal aid funding is an access to justice issue across Canada. For the federal election, the Canadian Bar Association is putting access to justice on the candidates’ radar to make it an election issue. All Canadians can learn how to participate at CBA.org/LegalAidMatters.

The Canadian Bar Association is the professional organization representing more than 36,000 lawyers, judges and law students across Canada with over 7,200 members in British Columbia.

To arrange an interview, contact:
Kent Hurl
604.646.7868
media@cbabc.org