B.C. Liberals Cut Legal Education And Put Lie To Their Pre-Election Funding Promise
VICTORIA - Reneging on yet another pre-election promise, the B.C. Liberals have pulled over 60 per cent of promised funding from the Justice Education Society, a non-profit Canadian leader in public legal aid education, the New Democrats said today.
Last week, the Justice Education Society, formerly called the Law Courts Education
Leonard Krog Society of B.C., was surprised to learn that in addition to losing $110,000 in funding from the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Liberals would be pulling the plug on an additional $200,000 promised to them back in April.
"The Justice Education Society serves a paramount role in helping over one million people across B.C. navigate the legal system and access resources," said New Democrat attorney general critic Leonard Krog . "Now, five months into their fiscal year, they've had their funding pulled with no warning. This is going to make it even harder for British Columbians to access justice."
The society, which has served victims of crime, youth-at-risk, persons with disabilities, Aboriginals and immigrants since 1989, says they're now dealing with a deficit because of earlier government funding assurances and will have to close four of their eight offices across the province and significantly reduce service and resources.
"These cuts won't save the government any money when you consider the strain this will put on the justice system and on families trying to access it," said Krog. "This is yet another pre-election lie that will hurt British Columbians."
Krog says these cuts are compounded by the fact that the B.C. Liberals have slashed legal aid funding since 2002.
"The Campbell government has consistently neglected the important role legal aid plays," said Krog. "The have made deep cuts to legal services that have resulted in more layoffs of workers that help people navigate the justice system.
"By cutting yet another program that helps people access education and understand the law and its processes, the B.C. Liberals are essentially taking away British Columbian’s right to justice."
Carole James at the New Democrats have been holding the Campbell Liberals accountable for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.
