The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) welcomes the announcement of a one-time grant of $7.9 million to support the development of a new framework for legal aid funding.
“CBABC is very pleased that the BC government has reached an agreement with the Association of Legal Aid Lawyers to provide short-term funding to increase payments to legal aid lawyers,” said CBABC President, Margaret A. Mereigh.
“Long-term sustainable funding is needed. We look forward to hearing the government’s plan for a funding model that will address the ongoing issues of eligibility, scope of coverage and tariff within BC’s legal aid system,” Ms. Mereigh continued.
The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) has a substantial history of advocating for the improvement of legal aid services in British Columbia. Calls for action in this area include improved funding of legal aid for family law services, redirecting the PST collected on legal advice and representation to help pay for legal aid, and a modernized tariff used to compensate lawyers for performing legal aid work.