Vancouver City Council's support of a BCGEU motion calling on the BC Liberal government to restore funding for the beleaguered legal aid system demonstrates broad public support for this important service, the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union said today.
"When B.C.'s biggest city strongly supports this vital public service, the provincial government should listen," says BCGEU president Darryl Walker. "Community leaders see first-hand the effect of these service cuts, which hit low income earners and women the hardest."
After years of funding and service cuts - including a $2 million cut to the 2010 provincial grant - the B.C. Liberal government directed the Legal Services Society to cut administrative costs by half. The society announced last November that it was planning to close five of the seven remaining regional offices, leaving only two to serve the entire province, in Vancouver and Terrace.
The number of cases processed by the society has been cut nearly in half in the past eight years - from 61,627 in 2001, to 32,680 in 2009.
"All British Columbians deserve access to a strong justice system - one that doesn't discriminate against people who can't afford costly legal services," says Walker. "By closing all but 2 regional centres and cutting back services, those who most need access to justice will have fewer options."
A March 2009 Ipsos-Reid poll, prepared for the Legal Services Society of B.C., shows that fully 94 per cent of British Columbians say they support the legal aid system. Ninety-seven per cent believe that everyone should have the right to access the justice system, and 54 per cent say they believe legal aid services are inadequately funded.
"We hope that local communities across B.C. will join Vancouver's lead in calling for the provincial government to restore funding to the legal aid system and keep these regional centres open," Walker says.
The BCGEU represents most legal aid workers at the Legal Services Society. The society is planning to cut 30 per cent of staff in 2010 - 58 positions cut from a total of 198.
-30-
Download the Ipsos Reid legal aid poll [1] (PDF)
 | Find out how you can support the Justice For All campaign [2] |
