Alberta government announces new governance agreement with Legal Aid Alberta
“The provision of legal aid services in Alberta is a shared commitment, and one that all the groups involved take very seriously,” Justice Minister Mickey Amery said in a news release issued Wednesday.
Just one day before the expiration of a governance agreement between the Alberta government, Legal Aid Alberta, and the Law Society of Alberta, a new five-year deal has been announced.
“The provision of legal aid services in Alberta is a shared commitment, and one that all the groups involved take very seriously,” said Justice Minister Mickey Amery in a news release on Wednesday. “Our goal is to ensure the sustainability and fiscal accountability of legal aid for all Albertans now and into the future, and this new agreement puts us on the right track.”
The new governance agreement will take effect on Friday.
The previous agreement expired on June 30, leading to concerns from legal organizations that Legal Aid Alberta might have to cease taking on new clients due to the absence of a deal. On July 5, Amery extended the agreement until September 5 to allow more time for negotiations.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Alberta government indicated it would continue consulting with Legal Aid Alberta and the Law Society of Alberta “to ensure decisions regarding the future direction of legal aid services in the province are data-driven and guided by the legal needs of vulnerable Albertans.”
Global News reached out to Legal Aid Alberta for comment on the new agreement, but the organization stated that no one was available to comment.
