DRAFT LETTER TO MINISTER OF ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE de JONG

MM/DD/YYYY

HONOURABLE MICHAEL de JONG
PO BOX 9044 STN PROV GOVT
VICTORIA BC V8W 9E2

RE: Legal aid cuts in BC

Dear Minister de Jong:

The Legal Services Society provides vital and invaluable frontline services and legal advice and representation to British Columbians that cannot afford to access the legal system on their own. I am concerned that cuts to staffing and services are doing further harm to a legal aid system that is already facing serious shortfalls. 

The Ministry of the Attorney General's September 2009 Service Plan says "access to justice is one of the most fundamental values in a democratic society." I strongly agree with this, and believe that the government has a responsibility to ensure that this principle is upheld. I also commend the government's goal of having the best legal system in Canada. However, I am concerned that this may be threatened by cutting the very supports that would enable us to achieve these lofty goals.

Cuts to the services offered for civil, family, criminal, and immigration law through the legal aid system have left many British Columbians to fend for themselves in a complicated and costly court system. The number of people that are receiving assistance from our legal aid system has almost been cut in half since 2002, when the first deep cuts were made. In 2009 we saw further cuts to the services provided because of significant budget reductions at the Legal Services Society.

The Service Plan outlines the success of the Justice Access Centre in Nanaimo, yet the legal aid services provided at the centre will be cut in March, with the exception of one aboriginal outreach worker. With the five regional centres and the LawLINE now closed, most British Columbians can only access our beleaguered legal aid system through the call-centre or at a "local agent" with severely restricted hours of availability. This is not a model that BC should be adopting.

I believe that maintaining and improving comprehensive services offered by competent and caring legal aid workers is necessary to ensure that all British Columbians have access to justice. I hope that you will reconsider your position, and commit to fully funding the legal aid system in BC. 

Sincerely,

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