Attorney General
- The B.C. government recognizes the importance of legal aid support and, despite the continued global economic uncertainty, we have maintained core basic legal aid funding at $66.5 million this year and have done so since 2005.
- In 2010, legal aid provided representation to nearly 28,000 low-income individuals to assist them with legal matters. Non-contribution eligibility for legal aid in B.C. is among the most generous in Canada.
- Legal Services Society funds family advice lawyers in two Justice Access Centres (in Vancouver and Nanaimo) and in six Family Justice Centres (in Victoria, Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna, Surrey and New Westminster).
- Information, assessment and referrals, dispute resolution and limited legal advice on family and civil legal disputes are available at no cost through the Nanaimo and Vancouver Justice Access Centres.
- In other locations in the province, information, assessment and referrals, dispute resolution and limited legal advice for family disputes is available at no cost at Family Justice Centres.
- Furthermore, the new Family Law Act, passed this session will encourage families to move disputes to mediation and out of courtrooms.
- These are just some of the many ways we are helping individuals resolve their family and civil justice issues quickly and affordably.
- Legal aid is provided by the Legal Services Society, a publicly funded, independent organization that makes its own day-to-day operating decisions on how to deliver legal aid.
- In light of Finance Minister Kevin Falcon's second quarterly report, the B.C. government will continue to exercise fiscal discipline and prudence in order to balance the budget by 2013-14.
Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Attorney General
250 387-4962
250 889-5945 (cell)
