For Immediate Release
January 26, 2005
OTTAWA – The Canadian Bar Association has welcomed the news that federal, provincial, and territorial ministers responsible for justice have endorsed a national civil legal aid program.
Based on news reports following their Jan. 24-25 meeting, CBA President Susan McGrath praised the justice ministers for their commitment to this essential service. “Ultimately, it’s the most vulnerable in our society who will benefit the most,” said Susan McGrath.
“A national civil legal aid program would offer better access to the justice system to Canadians who cannot otherwise afford legal services for their cases involving custody, access, and support of children, and landlord and tenant law.”
The CBA has a longstanding commitment to improving legal aid – particularly civil legal aid. A CBA priority for the past decade, legal aid efforts have included regular meetings with ministers of justice, many CBA resolutions, and an intervention at the Supreme Court of Canada in JG v. New Brunswick in 1998, where the CBA successfully supported constitutional recognition of a right to legal aid in a child protection matter.
The CBA President raised the matter with Justice Minister Cotler last Friday, Jan. 21. She stressed the need for federal leadership to ensure consistent eligibility criteria and minimum national standards across Canada.
“It’s gratifying to know that the federal, provincial and territorial ministers have reached a consensus on the importance of this issue,” added Susan McGrath. “While we appreciate the next hurdle for the federal Minister is to convince his Cabinet colleagues of the need for the program, we are cautiously optimistic of a positive outcome.”
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 38,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.
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CONTACT: Hannah Bernstein, Canadian Bar Association, Tel: (613) 237-2925, ext. 146; E-mail: hannahb@cba.org.
