National

B.C. announces more legal aid funding

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Mar, 2022 03:23 PM

VICTORIA - The provincial government is investing another $8.19 million in legal aid in British Columbia, filling what it says are gaps in service.

The Ministry of the Attorney General announced the funding follows analysis of the legal-aid system between December 2019 and June 2021 by the ministry, Legal Aid BC and the Association of Legal Aid Lawyers.

The money was announced in Budget 2022, and much of the funding, $7.47 million, is an increase to the budget for Legal Aid BC to support lawyers delivering legal help in the province.

It says $3.55 million of that funding will be used to ensure junior counsel are assigned in all murder and manslaughter cases, to provide a certain number of hours for expert witnesses in criminal cases and to support families trying to navigate the court system.

The funding will also be used to add to the criminal early resolution contract, providing legal help to more clients whose cases weren't able to be resolved outside the courts.

The remaining $730,000 will go to the Society for Children and Youth to expand a legal clinic and meet the growing demand for legal services for children and youth.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Governor General meets Queen in person

The Queen wore a sapphire brooch given to her by former governor general David Johnston in 2017 to mark her 65th anniversary. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is being commemorated across the Commonwealth this year.

Governor General meets Queen in person

B.C., Washington to work on flooding plan

Flooding in southern B.C. and northern Washington in November displaced an estimated 500 people south of the border and about 14,000 were forced to flee their homes on the Canadian side.

B.C., Washington to work on flooding plan

237 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

There are 345 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 50 are in intensive care. In the past 24 hours, no new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,946.

237 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out

With Sept. 10 picked as the date for when the Conservative Party of Canada will have a new leader, time is ticking for prospective candidates and their teams to get into place. Those running have until April 19 to throw their hat into the ring and until June 3 to sell memberships.

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out

Considerable avalanche risk on B.C. South Coast

The agency warning covers alpine, treeline and below-treeline sections on south coast mountains for Tuesday and Thursday. It says recent storm slabs could likely be triggered by human activity in the area.

Considerable avalanche risk on B.C. South Coast

Auditor makes recommendations for BC Housing

In an audit of BC Housing's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, auditor general Michael Pickup says the Crown corporation did not have a process to ensure hotel and motel operators fulfilled their agreements for the space.