By rdnewsNOW staff

Province boosts Legal Aid by $70 million over five years

Oct 12, 2018 | 9:04 AM

EDMONTON – Alberta is putting in another $70 million to legal aid services as part of a new agreement.

Premier Rachel Notley says the new deal will deliver more and timely legal aid to low-income Albertans.

The money will be spread out over four years and is part of a new governance agreement between the province and legal aid, a service that about 60,000 used last year.

The total operating grant for legal aid will now be $104 million in this budget year.

With the extra money, legal aid will have more lawyers and organizational changes will aim to reduce turnover.

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“A properly funded legal aid program is critical to a fair, effective and accessible justice system,” says Kathleen Ganley, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. “We have negotiated a new legal aid governance agreement that provides this critical program with stable and predictable funding now and into the future. By reversing decades of underfunding in Alberta’s legal aid program, we are helping to ensure all Albertans can access legal services.”

Legal aid advice will also be more readily available in person at the courthouse or over the phone.

(The Canadian Press)