Government ensuring access to justice through increased legal aid support

News Release

June 8, 2016, Ottawa, Ontario

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that our justice system is fair, efficient and accessible to all Canadians. Legal aid assists economically disadvantaged people in obtaining legal assistance and representation.

Today, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould, reinforced the federal government’s financial commitment of an additional $88 million over five years to legal aid funding partnerships with the provinces and territories that was announced in Budget 2016. The Minister also announced an additional $30 million per year in ongoing funding.

These new funds will make more legal aid available for those who need it and will support new ways of delivering services. Performance measurement will also be added to make sure legal aid funding is doing what it needs to do.

Quotes

“All Canadians – no matter their means – should have the right to a fair trial and access to a modern, efficient justice system. I am pleased that we can give our provincial and territorial partners the assistance they have been requesting to help fund legal aid plans throughout Canada. The clear financial commitment from the federal government will allow legal aid plans to serve the people who need them.”

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould,
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Quick Facts

  • The Legal Aid Program is a cost-shared program that provides contribution funding to the provinces and territories to deliver legal aid services for economically disadvantaged persons.
  • This federal-provincial/territorial collaboration on legal aid is based on the shared responsibility for criminal justice. The federal government is responsible for criminal law-making and procedure, and the provincial/territorial governments are responsible for the administration of justice, including legal aid.
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Associated Links

Contacts

Joanne Ghiz
Minister of Justice Spokesperson
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621

Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207


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