Law Society expresses grave concern over deep cuts to Legal Aid Ontario

TORONTO, April 11, 2019 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Ontario is gravely concerned over the Ontario Government's plans to cut funding to Legal Aid Ontario by over 30 per cent, as outlined today in the provincial budget.

"The reductions will have a significant impact on vulnerable Ontarians who require legal assistance, and have no other means of obtaining it," says Law Society of Ontario Treasurer Malcolm Mercer. "This major reduction in such a short period of time will cause increased court delays and threatens to seriously disrupt the administration of justice."

The Law Society will address its concerns directly with the Attorney General, with the goal that she reconsider and recalibrate the depth of these funding cuts.

The Law Society also encourages Legal Aid Ontario to engage directly with the affected communities to discuss and mitigate the profound impacts that these reductions will have on service delivery throughout the province.

As one of the initial architects of the modern legal aid system, the Law Society has a significant and abiding interest in helping to ensure robust, transparent and sustainable legal aid services for low-income Ontarians.

The Law Society regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society has a mandate to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario and act in a timely, open and efficient manner.

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SOURCE The Law Society of Ontario