FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 17, 2004

VICTORIA – With government finances showing a marked improvement over last year, the Canadian Bar Association’s BC Branch renewed its calls for the government to remove the 7.5% provincial tax on legal services, as the only profession required to charge the tax to clients. Speaking in Victoria following the announcement of the BC Liberal government’s first balanced budget, CBA President Robert Brun argued that maintaining the tax, which is not being used to support legal aid as intended, is inconsistent with the government’s objective of creating a more competitive business environment in BC.

“The tax on legal fees represents a significant barrier to new investment in BC, and places an unnecessary hardship on individuals and businesses who need to access the justice system,” says Brun. “It also creates an uneven playing field for BC law firms who compete for business with firms from across the country.”

The tax on legal services was first introduced in 1992 by the previous NDP government to fund legal aid. Instead, a significant portion of revenues from the tax have consistently ended up in the government’s general revenues. The legal profession in BC has consistently and universally opposed this tax, which disadvantages BC law firms competing for business across Canada.

The real impact of this tax is borne by clients – the men, women and businesses of British Columbia.

For more information, please contact:
Caroline Nevin, Associate Executive Director
Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch
T: 604.687.3404 x320

About the Canadian Bar Association
The Canadian Bar Association is the professional organization responsible for representing the interests of more than 10,000 lawyers in British Columbia.