Sask.’s sole community legal clinic sees ‘detrimental’ defunding from government
Global News
Saskatchewan government funding has been pulled from the province's sole community legal clinic.
Saskatchewan’s ministry of justice has withdrawn its contract with Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City Inc. (CLASSIC), which the organization says has major implications for residents trying to get accessible legal services.
Chantelle Johnson, executive director for CLASSIC said they’ve worked with the ministry over the past decade, saying their service contract had them receiving $100,000 to cover client-side services and student training.
She said CLASSIC is the province’s only community legal clinic, saying that already creates some strain, and the complete withdrawal of funding now puts them in a tough position.
“We’re also facing a unprecedented access-to-justice crisis in this province. That won’t be news to people, you see it everywhere,” Johnson said.
She explained that other provinces have several community legal clinics at people’s disposal.
“It’s going to be detrimental. We already need more assistance, not less.”
She said they are the only free legal provider in the province in areas like housing law, income assistance law, human rights, immigration and refugee law.
Johnson said that the dual-pronged mandate for CLASSIC is now in jeopardy, saying this will affect their services for clients but also student access, adding that they are the only clinical legal education site in Saskatchewan.
