Calgary legal support group calls on candidates to focus on people who can’t afford lawyers
Global News
A Calgary organization is calling on candidates in the provincial election to remove barriers to accessible justice.
A Calgary organization that offers free legal services to people who don’t qualify for legal aid in Alberta is calling on candidates in the provincial election to remove barriers to accessing justice.
“We have political parties talking specifically about crime in our downtown area and on our trains, and there are ideas about increasing police presence – which is not a terrible idea, but it’s only one part of the equation, said Marina Giacomin, CEO of Calgary Legal Guidance (CLG)
CLG offers free legal guidance to no-to-low-income people, including those experiencing family violence, homelessness, or health issues, and cannot afford a lawyer or have access to paid services.
Giacomin is calling provincial candidates to think about access to justice, specifically people experiencing poverty and fleeing domestic violence.
“A lot of people can’t afford lawyers and legal aid is an excellent resource but historically there’s been issues with people being able to access it just because legal aid has been chronically underfunded,” Giacomin said.
“Access to justice affects all of us. It’s not just something that people who are in the profession of law or someone who has been charged with something cares about. We are all paying for these kinds of things in various ways,” Giacomin said.
In 2022, Alberta’s defense lawyers voted to end months of job action after the government announced an interim increase to funding for legal aid.
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