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NEWS RELEASE |
Legal Aid Funding Increase Makes Way for Increased Financial Eligibility
10% increase to guidelines will improve access to legal services to Albertans in need
EDMONTON, AB – March 24, 2011 – The increase in provincial government funding in 2010-11 and 2011-12 will serve to partially offset the deficiency in revenue over expenses currently budgeted for the coming year and enable LAA to increase its Financial Eligibility Guidelines by 10% and implement two additional pilot projects.
The guidelines increase will go into effect on July 1, 2011. The [LAA] Board remains committed to reinstating the guidelines to the level that was seen in 2009. "This increase is a positive step toward restoring the guidelines to help us to better serve low-income Albertans," said Kirk McDonald, Chair of the Legal Aid Alberta Board of Directors. "We said the decrease was temporary and we stand behind that."
"We commend the work of Legal Aid Alberta and their dedication to helping vulnerable Albertans get access to justice," said Verlyn Olson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. "The Provincial Government's commitment to Legal Aid Alberta remains strong, and the increase in our funding this year and over the next three fiscal years will help Legal Aid Alberta continue to provide their valuable services."
Conducted in late 2009, LAA undertook a full review of the legal aid plan. The purpose of the review was to find new and innovative ways to provide services and more effectively manage resources. The review resulted in several pilot projects, which will continue this year and be fully evaluated at the end of fiscal 2011-12.
In addition, in 2011, LAA will be establishing a staff office in Wetaskiwin for family matters and enhanced criminal duty counsel, as well as establishing a staff civil legal aid clinic in Calgary.
LAA's budget has been affected by a decline in the amount of funding received from Alberta Law Foundation who receives revenue from lawyers' trust accounts. As a result, LAA has been using cash reserves built up in prior years to help fund its annual operations.
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