Article content

In April, the provincial government cut 30 per cent of Legal Aid Ontario’s budget. An additional 10 per cent cut is planned for next year. The government is lopping 40 per cent off Legal Aid Ontario’s budget to reduce the provincial deficit – but it won’t accomplish that goal.

In fact, we’ll see the opposite, with higher costs and greater strain on public services. Ottawa Council recently acknowledged this problem and our mayor has written to the premier but there’s been no response to-date.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Churchman and Stein: Legal Aid cuts will cost Ontario in the long run Back to video

People seeking legal aid come from all walks of life, often looking for help because they face a crisis, such as an injury at work or fleeing from domestic violence. Others live with long-term physical and mental health disabilities. Many are coping with trauma. Most are women, people of colour and Indigenous. Almost all are tenants with their incomes taken up by unaffordable rents.

A quick, positive resolution is everyone’s goal but if legal aid services weren’t available, cases would drag on, the system would slow down, and no one would feel like justice was done.

Our clients all have low incomes. A single person only qualifies for legal clinic services if they earn less than $22,700 a year. It’s a lower bar for family law or criminal defence. Most clients earn way less: A single person relying on Ontario Disability Support benefits, for example, receives a maximum annual benefit of $14,028.