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“We have one thing to say about this: shame on you and shame on your so-called social democratic government.”

Savage said there had been positive signs that the government was finally heeding appeals for a desperately needed funding boost, with a 20 per cent increase to Legal Aid funding in their first two terms, along with another 10 per cent funding hike last fall. The province also agreed to begin a review of the service.

Photo by Postmedia Archives

But the Calgary lawyer said the review has essentially sputtered out and an immediate $60 million is needed to augment the service’s $89-million annual budget to ensure those unable to afford legal representation are not left to navigate the justice system on their own.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back is the slap in the face of last month’s budget, with zero new dollars to Legal Aid when $60 million is required,” Savage told Postmedia, noting they need an immediate 40 per cent increase to funding, part of a 65 per cent hike over the next four years.

“This administration two years ago realized the need to give it a blood transfusion to keep it alive. Now it’s a crisis.”

In Alberta, about 85 per cent of Legal Aid lawyers work in private practices and receive provincial funding to compensate them for their work. But with courts overwhelmed with petty crime cases driven by Alberta’s economic downturn, Savage noted that in many cases, defendants without financial means are forced to represent themselves, further bogging down the legal system.