Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Justice minister was playing the role of the ostrich, burying her head in the sand but insisting that cuts to legal aid funding would not affect service delivery. 

Well, today the legal community is asking her to come up for air as these changes will deprive impoverished citizens of legal representation, and this will result in wrongful convictions, inappropriate sentencing, and unfair custody and access rights decisions. Accordingly, my question is for the Justice minister. Are these critics right in saying that because of these cuts many low-income Albertans will not receive adequate legal representation?

Ms Redford: Well, Mr. Speaker, in fact, the hon. member is not right. We have a system in Alberta where we are ensuring that we are able to provide access to justice and appropriate legal advice to everyone that needs it in this province. Now, one thing I know as a lawyer is that lawyers don’t like to see a lot of change, but just because change is something that people aren’t sure about doesn’t mean that it’s not a good thing, and we’re proceeding.

Mr. Hehr: Well, Mr. Speaker, the Justice minister has determined how the Legal Aid Society should operate and oversee aspects of this service delivery. Doesn’t this undermine the confidence and the impartiality of legal aid and bring our system of justice into disrepute? Don’t forget that you’re also responsible for public prosecutions.

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, the Legal Aid board is an independent board. The Legal Aid board oversees how it decides to spend its money. The Legal Aid board also has a role in public policy discussions about what legal aid should look like. We participate in that discussion. The Legal Aid board makes the decision as to how they will proceed, and it’s a fully transparent system.

Mr. Hehr: Mr. Speaker, given that Legal Aid Alberta has been forced to reduce eligibility requirements to, quote, remain sustainable and legal aid is an essential service provided to Alberta’s most vulnerable people, why are we casting them aside for the sake of sustaining a business model?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, legal aid that is provided in this province is much more extensive than in many other provinces in this country. We fulfill our obligations both as a matter of public policy and as a constitutional issue, and we will continue to do that.

Alberta Hansard, April 14, 2010

[direct link to this article]