AG David Eby
This week Julie talks to David Eby, Attorney-General of British Columbia; Minister Eby has a broad policy mandate, encompassing improving and supporting legal aid (including services to First Nations communities), and expanded poverty law services to increase Access to Justice. This conversation took place shortly after he had commissioned a new review of Legal Aid, led by Pro Bono Access Executive Director Jamie McClaren, which has since reported on how best to spend the stretched legal aid purse. Minister Eby makes it clear that he expects the legal profession in B.C. to step up to the challenge of Access to Justice, both by approving alternative service providers, and by providing pro bono services. How far will he go to make this happen?
And this just in: in the last few days, Minister Eby has offered BC’s Legal Aid lawyers a pay raise to avert a threatened strike.
Related:
NSRLP news update on BC Law Society December AGM
In other news:
Specific recommendations from the BC Report on Legal Aid Service Delivery; Law Foundation of Ontario launched new website for Ontario’s Family Law Limited Scope Services Project; New NSRLP Primer on how to access court transcripts across the country; and a Go Fund Me campaign to support Julie’s legal battle around NDAs.
Review of Legal Aid Service Delivery in British Columbia
Ontario’s Family Law Limited Scope Services Project
NSRLP’s National Directory of Professionals Assisting SRLs
Primer on how to order court transcripts across Canada
GoFundMe – “End the Use of NDAs in Sexual Misconduct Cases”
Open letter – “Call for the University of Windsor to Defend and Support Dr. Julie Macfarlane”
Jumping Off the Ivory Tower is produced and hosted by Julie Macfarlane and Dayna Cornwall; production and editing by Brauntë Petric; Other News produced and hosted by Ali Tejani; promotion by Moya McAlister and Ali Tejani.