An innovative idea in the Legal Aid fight

Community groups and lawyers working together in the East Kootenays have developed an imaginative concept called the “Journey for Justice--Give It Back”. A relay “journey”--by foot, bicycle, kayak, horseback, whatever--will be held to collect the stories of people denied Legal Aid in every community law office on the way to Victoria. There will be media and public exposure in each community, culminating in the delivery of the stories to the Premier. Other BC communities are being asked to get involved in this Journey--watch for follow-up Bar Faxes on this issue. Along with Dugald Christie’s protest bike ride to Ottawa, and the withdrawal of Legal Aid services by 50 members of the Vancouver Bar, the Journey for Justice is providing a much-needed infusion of energy into the battle to ensure access to Legal Aid services.

This article was published in the August 1998 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2006, all rights reserved.