Defence lawyers in Alberta are trying to force the provincial government to fund legal assistance for low-income Albertans.
The Criminal Defence Lawyers Association in Calgary accuses the provincial government of not funding Legal Aid adequately and calls it a “war on the poor.”
The association’s Ian Savage says “this government, in the richest province in the country, has decided – no, now you need to pay for justice in this province.”
Criminal defence lawyers in Alberta say people are being denied legal help when they go to court and so two professional associations are stepping in.
The lawyers won't be providing legal advice for the individual cases, instead they will fight for court orders which will force the government to pay for Legal Aid for low-income Albertans.
The Criminal Defence Lawyers Association and the Northern Alberta Defence Lawyers organization have set up a toll-free number (1-844-441-9957) so people can call in for help.
Savage says "people with brain injuries, people with mental health issues, obviously the poor and the working poor...are being forced now to find some way of getting in front of a judge and direct the government to fund their defence lawyer.”
New rules have made it difficult for many low-income Albertans to be considered eligible for any free legal advice through Legal Aid.
However, recently a judge in Edmonton issued a court order which forced Legal Aid to provide representation to three people who had been turned down for Legal Aid.
All three were dependent on AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) benefits, but that income was considered too high to qualify for Legal Aid.
According to a spokesperson from Alberta Justice and the Solicitor General, the province will continue to "push the federal government for an increase in their portion of the funding.'
If nothing changes " we (Alberta Justice and the Solicitor General) will look to increase provincial funding in the next budget."
