Government to review legal aid services

November 25, 2015.

Justice Minister and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley says the province will be leading a review on the legal aid service. “We want to make sure we’re protecting the most vulnerable Albertans by providing adequate access to legal services,” she said. The review will include scope of service, financial eligibility guidelines, service delivery model, and affordability of the legal aid program. Recommendations are expected in late spring. Ganley’s review was spurred by an increase of Albertans who qualify for legal representation under Legal Aid Alberta. “There is an unprecedented demand for our services that has resulted in cost increases which, when coupled with existing funding pressures and decreased revenue from the Alberta Law Foundation, has created a significant gap between existing and required funding,” said Suzanne Polkosnik, Q.C., president and CEO, Legal Aid Alberta. Because of this, in the fall LAA proposed changes designed to focus on better helping low-income Albertans access core legal aid services, which Ganley accepted. The approved changes deal with immediate funding pressures on an interim basis and avoid the need for additional funding this year.