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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 20, 1998
In support of the thousands of men, women and children who have suffered due to painful cutbacks to Legal Aid services, the Coalition for Access to Justice is launching a "Journey For Justice" across BC. Journeyers will be traveling from all corners of the province, collecting the stories of people denied Legal Aid, and delivering them to Premier Glen Clark on November 19.
"For years, we have been hearing from Government that they cannot afford to adequately fund a fair system of justice for poor people," said Carolyn McCool, spokesperson for the Coalition. "Yet, this Government introduced a special tax to fund Legal Aid, and is now making at least $19 million in profit while poor people suffer."
The Journey for Justice will be launched in Cranbrook on October 29, led by the East Kootenay Steering Committee. A delegation of Journeyers will travel by car, mountain bike and on foot through Invermere, Golden and Revelstoke and will arrive in Vernon for a media and public event on Thursday November 5. A second leg of the Journey will proceed from Vernon, with public events in Kamloops, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge and New Westminister. Journeyers from Vancouver Island will collect in Victoria, and bring the Island’s stories to Vancouver.
At the same time, symbolic journeys, complete with local stories, will be taking place in communities throughout the province. Events in Prince Rupert, Terrace, Smithers, Fort St. John, and Dawson Creek will culminate in a public forum in Prince George on Monday November 2. Additional activities are planned for Kelowna, Mission, Langley, Abbotsford, Campbell River and North Vancouver.
The Journey will conclude with a rally in Vancouver on Thursday November 19. An itinerary and list of local contacts is attached.
"Legal Aid affects us all -- for the principle of equality before the law to have any meaning, there cannot be one system for the rich and another for the poor. Premier Glen Clark made a commitment to put the proceeds of the special tax on legal fees into Legal Aid. The citizens and businesses of BC who paid $81.5 million into that tax revenue last year -- and the people who are being denied Legal Aid every day because of underfunding -- want Premier Clark to keep his promise."
Schedule of Events
Thursday, October 29, Cranbrook
The Journey for Justice is launched with a rally in Cranbrook
Time: 1:00 pm
Place: Rotary Park, across from the Cranbrook Courthouse.
For information call Paul Komer, Cranbrook. 250-489-4344
Monday, November 2, Prince George
Public Forum in Prince George
Time & Location: TBA
For information call Balli Bassi, Prince George. (250) 563-1113
Thursday, November 5, Vernon
The Journey for Justice caravan will arrive in Vernon and join a walk from the Vernon Women’s Resource Centre to the Courthouse.
Departing from the Women’s Resource Centre at 12 noon
Arrival at the courthouse: 12:30 pm
speeches: 12:30 - 1 pm
For information call Debra Critchley, Vernon. 250-542-7531
Thursday, November 12, Kamloops
The Journey caravan will arrive in Kamloops for a public event
For more information call Murphy Kennedy. 250- 554-8089
Monday, November 16, Chilliwack
The Journey caravan will arrive at the Chilliwack Courthouse
Time: 12 noon
Wednesday, November 18, Maple Ridge
The Journey caravan will meet Coalition supporters at the Maple Ridge Courthouse.
Time: 10 am
Tuesday, November 17, Victoria
Media and public event will take place in Victoria
Wednesday, November 18, New Westminster
The Journey caravan will meet Coalition supporters at the New Westminster courthouse.
Thursday, November 19, Vancouver
March from the courthouse at 222 Main Street to Canada Place
Beginning at 222 Main at 12 noon, arriving at Canada Place at 1 pm
For more information on Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island events call Wendy Bond at 687-3404, ext. 351; toll-free: 1-888-687-3404, ext. 351; fax: 604-669-9601
The following contacts can provide in-depth information about the Legal Aid funding situation and the Coalition for Access to Justice.
Carolyn McCool, spokesperson for the Coalition for Access to Justice, in Vancouver at (604) 720-6118
Mary Williams, Disabled Women’s Network advocate and spokesperson for Women’s Access to Legal Services, in Vancouver at (604) 875-0188
Peter Wilson, spokesperson for the Association of Legal Aid Lawyers (ALL), and a good source of information on the history and funding of Legal Aid in BC, in Vancouver at (604) 684-4751
Brian Chromko, Executive Director, Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of BC, in North Vancouver at (604) 985-5355
Mayland McKimm, Legal Aid criminal lawyer and CBA Legal Aid Committee Chair, in Victoria at (250) 388-4121
Shelley Chrest, family and poverty law lawyer, in New Westminster at (604) 540-5830
Gerry de la Garza, poverty advocate, in Vancouver at (604) 596-2311
Andrew Irvine, President, BC Civil Liberties Association, in Vancouver at (604) 687-3013
Journey for Justice Local Representatives
Peace River area: Tamara Golinsky, South Peace Community Resources Society, in Dawson Creek at (250) 782-9174
Prince Rupert: Darryl John O’Byrne, Legal Aid lawyer, at (250) 627-7771
Terrace: Debbie Scarborough, Executive Director, Terrace Transition House, at (250) 635-6843
Prince George & area: Balli Bassi, Courtwork Coordinator, Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society at (250) 563-1113
East Kootenay: Paul Komer, spokesperson for the East Kootenay Steering Committee, in Cranbrook at (250) 489-4344
Vernon: Debra Critchley, Media Spokesperson, Vernon Women’s Resource Centre at (250) 542-7531
Kamloops: Murphy Kennedy, community justice advocate at (250) 554-8089
Kelowna: Micki Smith, Kelowna Women’s Resource Centre at (250) 762-2355
North Vancouver Island: Sian Winnig, Executive Director, North Island Advocacy Coalition Society, Campbell River at (250) 830-1171
Ridge Meadows: Kathy Marshall, Ridge Meadows Community Law Office at (604) 467-3011
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