FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 1, 1998

Below is a draft letter, which can be used as a guide for writing to your MLA regarding Legal Aid Funding. To find out who your MLA is, call Enquiry BC (Government of British Columbia listing in the telephone book).

Dear MLA:

Legal Aid is a critical issue within this constituency.

Our justice system is founded on a very basic principle of equality before the law. The Legal Aid system supports that principle by providing legal services to people who cannot afford to pay on their own. Over the past few years, we have seen that system struggle in the face of decreased and frozen budgets, and increased demand.

Right now, every single person in this constituency who pays for legal services pays an additional 7% tax which Glen Clark introduced in 1992 to "offset" the cost of Legal Aid. That money goes in to General Revenues, generating millions and millions of dollars more than is paid back out to Legal Aid. That profit is being made on the backs of every person who pays legal bills in this constituency, and every person who is denied legal services they can’t afford.

Over the years, the eligibility requirements for Legal Aid have become tougher and tougher. In particular, women are being targeted by cutbacks to Legal Aid -- the number of services available in Family Law cases were severely cut-back last year, leaving many with no access to Legal Aid to counter or pursue changes to custody, access and maintenance.

Every day, desperate people are turned away from the very program set-up to help them. As our constituency’s representative to the Legislature, we look to you for leadership on this significant issue. I ask that take action based on the concerns of your constituents and in keeping with the Emergency Resolution passed at your own Party Conference earlier this year.

Sincerely,
Constituent