BC’s legal aid system is “broken”

It’s time for a complete overhaul of BC’s legal aid system, according to a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and West Coast LEAF (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund). “Our system is in crisis,” says Alison Brewin, Executive Director of West Coast LEAF and co-author of the study. “Slashing legal aid services only saves money in the very short term. When people lack legal representation, cases are less likely to be resolved outside of court, and can lead to lengthy trials that are extremely costly to the public.”

Rights-Based Legal Aid: Rebuilding BC’s Broken System examines the serious deterioration of legal aid services over the past 15 years, and particularly since deep cuts began in 2002.

Visit the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Research website to download the full report.