Lawyers on the roster are an integral part of the AAL. They are our closest partners. I have no doubt that most people who support legal aid in Alberta do so for the right reasons – access to justice. The application for legal aid never stops. LAA has 300 employees and 1,200 lawyers on the roster serving 75 municipalities across the province. Legal Aid Alberta is a publicly funded, not-for-profit organization that receives most of its financial support from the Government of Alberta. To date, LAA has received sufficient funding to support all of our services and provide legal advice to any eligible person. In recent weeks, LAA has been pushed into the news. The union actions of some contract lawyers who want the government to increase its legal aid fees have raised questions from clients, judges, lawyers and Albertans.
According to the government`s fiscal plan, $1.45 billion has been allocated to the Department of Justice and the Attorney General to provide them with the resources needed to modernize court processes through digitization, such as the implementation of electronic court records, online payment of speeding tickets and other innovative methods of litigation. Since 1973, we have been protecting the legal rights of people living in big, small and non-online cities, representing nearly 50 years of access to justice for Albertans. We were able to survive the effects of the work measures. Albertans can continue to have access to legal aid as always, thanks to exceptional support from inside and outside the organization. While not everyone can afford a lawyer, every Albertan deserves access to a fair legal system. As a public not-for-profit organization, we provide affordable legal services in the areas of family law, family violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defense. Recent cuts to key public services have sparked public outrage, says union As President and CEO of LAA, I have worked tirelessly to make strategic financial investments in legal aid so that more people have access to our services. Funding from the Government of Alberta has allowed us to help people and the justice system in new and innovative ways. Nevertheless, AUPE expressed concern that budget cuts for legal aid could potentially increase the burden on vulnerable Albertans.
AUPE BARGAINING TEAM – – Jan Davidson-Carey Legal Aid Society 403-404-2307 or jan.davidson@hotmail.comMichele Lucas 780-288-2535 or michele.lucas394@hotmail.com Peter Dubourt 780-293-5141 or pdubourt@yahoo.ca Raman Deep (alternate) 780-905-9662 ramandeep_83@hotmail.com In the statement, AUPE also criticized LAA`s recent implementation of the overhaul program, which has resulted in salary cuts, layoffs and other organizational changes. Under the new program, call centre employees will be paid 18 per cent less despite the same amount of work as before, while in Edmonton, court admissions and assessment officers will be forced to deal with workspaces that are not only cramped, but also have no confidentiality so clients can share sensitive information. In its statement, AUPE later said that, according to an email from LAA President and CEO Gianpaolo Panusa, addressed to about 60 of its members, Panusa claimed that Attorney General Schweitzer had praised the redesign program as „the kind of innovation needed in times of budget restraint.” Together, we touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of Albertans every year at every level of the court and in every community. People in crisis to whom they can turn nowhere else. Leaving a child. An elderly parent who is physically abused. Homeless teenager accused of stealing food to avoid starvation. LAA administers the Alberta Justice of the Peace`s Emergency Protection Order, Bail and Duty Counsel programs. We are often the first port of call for people arrested, charged with a crime or seeking protection from domestic violence. We play a critical role at the forefront of Alberta`s network of specialized courts serving Aboriginal Albertans and those with mental health and addictions issues.
Yes. We are busy. We`ve always been busy – 35,000 clients and 61,000 files a year – and now we`re at full speed to make sure we`re supporting disadvantaged Albertans. „As the first port of call for Albertans in crisis, [legal aid staff] is the first line of defence for the underserved,” said AUPE Vice-President Susan Slade. „Restrict their working conditions further, this defensive wall will collapse.” If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact a member of your bargaining team to schedule another appointment to obtain this important information. Noting that these budget cuts were announced at a particularly turbulent time, AUPE said there had already been a public outcry against the current government`s treatment of key public services. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees has expressed dismay at the $5 million budget cuts to Legal Aid Alberta. A negotiating meeting will be held on Thursday, 12 May, at 6 p.m. It is very important that members are involved, as we will discuss what happened during the mediation and outline the process to decide together on our next steps.